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Ice cream! Networking! Being nearly run over by busy organizers!

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[Recap]

Another approach to recovery of cryonics patients, or patients prior to requiring cryonics, is regenerative medicine, that is, the ability to use stem cells to rebuild tissues. Michael West from Advanced Cell Technology discussed “Immortal Cells: The Prospect of Regenerative Medicine.”

The biology of aging remains a mystery, and West provided a history of thoughts on aging, including a reference to August Weismann in 1891 who predicted that cell division in somatic cells is finite. His research, however, was ignored. Researchers have since determined the finiteness caused by a “clock” in somatic cells, through telomere shortening on the tips of DNA over multiple cell divisions. The germline maintains telomere length. West and his research team tried to take this ability in germline cells and apply them to somatic cells. According to West “it worked!”

A reservoir of “immortal cells’ turned out to be human embryonic stem cells. These cells, even in the laboratory, will differentiate into a wide-range of tissues. According to West, nuclear transfer does reset the “aging clock,” despite the common belief that research showed this was not to be the case, with Dolly the cloned sheep commonly believed to have been “born old.”

Where is the field of stem cell research currently at? West and his company are working on technology to sort stem cell precursors to various mature tissues.

[Commentary]

Recent research into the environment of stem cells, as opposed to stem cells themselves, suggested you cannot simply inject stem cells into the body, especially an older body, and hope they regenerate and rebuild the necessary tissues. Particular factors in the environment of these stem cells appear to be important for letting the stem cells do what they need to do, according to researchers like Irina Conboy. West said that there are definitely unanswered questions, but so many promising avenues of research that something good will come from this activity.

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[Recap]

Nanotechnology. Once only an obscure buzzword among fringe techno-progressives, nanotechnology has emerged both as a multi-billion dollar industry and a controversial technology that could lead, according to some, to a prosperous future of plenty, or, according to others, the destruction of the Earth. The word has become increasingly tied to modern, market available structures measured in nanometers and included in goods to provide properties not possible with larger scale materials.

Originally, however, nanotechnology referred to something now called molecular manufacturing. These are nano-sized devices, including computing and mechanical, that can, among other capabilities, manipulate individual atoms and perform computation. This technology is an important area of inquiry for those interested in cryonics because it could be the very technology used to restore cryopreserved individuals to life.

Ralph Merkle is a noted expert in the field of nanotechnology. He discussed “Molecular Nanotechnology and the Repair of Cryopreserved Patients.”

His definition for nanotechnology includes the arrangement of atoms in “most of the ways permitted by physical law,” get them in the right place, and decrease manufacturing costs to not much more than the cost of the raw materials and energy. Important to cryonics is the ability to position atoms where needs, in hopes of repairing damage and rebuilding healthy bodies.

This enabling technology is called positional assembly. Diamond is a suggested material for building these tools. By making use of just a select few elements like hydrogen, carbon, and germanium nearly limitless types of structures could theoretically be created. To support this idea, Merkle and Rob Freitas have been exploring minimal toolsets by using simulation software. The nine tools they propose are molecules that can perform particular functions. For example, a hydrogen donation tool could deposit hydrogen atoms where necessary.

Combined with these tools the researchers suggested a selection of reactions to attach and detach atoms where required. Repeating these steps many, many times, you can create new copies of the same tools, as well as hydrocarbon structures.

Beyond these simulations, Merkle recommends more specific proposals to actually begin building these tools and nanostructures by exploring each of the useful reactions proposed in more detail using more detailed simulations, and by conducting experiments based on the simulations.

Eventually, molecular manufacturing is expected to lead to robotic arms, 8-bit computers, and other parts for devices smaller than, say, the mitochondrion. Merkle estimates that a sugar cube-sized volume computer created by molecular manufacturing advances would have more computer power than all the computer power that exists in the world today: “almost a billion Pentiums in parallel.”

This radical reduction in size and increase in ability would lead to nanomedicine and the ability to revive cryopreserved patients, by repairing and rebuilding at the subcellular scale. However, one issue is appropriate funding levels to conduct the necessary experiments and development. If molecular manufacturing is a capability that will take several decades to develop, long-term thinking investors are necessary.

[Commentary]

Fantastic speaker. It is helpful to create a blueprint by which others can design their own experiments.

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It is time for lunch. These breaks, lunches, and dinners are includes in the conference package and sponsored and funded by organizations or wealthier Alcor members. These sponsors have been mentioned between talks.

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[Recap]

Tanya Jones is the COO of Alcor. She has also participated in over half of the members’ cryopreservations. She talked about “Improving Cryopreservation Technology at Alcor.”

The moment the heart stops and legal death begins, Alcor must act quickly to stabilize the brain and body. This is most effective when they are on standby and near the patient. The logistics for transferring human remains to Arizona are extensive, and so Alcor must pay close attention to every detail.

Research will help improve the cryonics process, at every level from standby to stasis. New automation technology called the Whole-body Perfusion System will speed up the process which has until now been mostly manual, while allowing the gathering of new data, automated reports, and improved knowledge. For example, cryopreservation levels were previously eyeballed by one of the technicians. The Whole-body Perfusion System will now monitor these levels, temperatures, pressure, flow, and cryoprotectant uptake and flag alarms.

Other alarm conditions, like bubbles during cryopreservation, that arise will be flagged by the new system, and reports will be generated to document to process.

Another technology being developed is called “Deep Cooling”, a way to cool the patient down to -100 degrees Celsius.

Besides equipment and tool improvements, procedures for training are also being revisited. Worldwide Alcor membership is currently around 800 people, so new technician regions are being setup to get them to the bedside of patients more quickly and efficiently. Training will be improved by bringing people to Alcor for hands-on experience with cadavers or large animal remains.

[Commentary]

It is always great to hear about new technologies being tested or implemented that will improve efficiency, data gathering and report generation. Even the tables and pods have been improved, including fans, ways of making sure the person will fit, and other additions and changes. Other improvements will include better ice baths with improved insulation, potentially keeping a person at 0 degrees for up to five days; tools for drawing out the blood; cooling via the lungs, smaller and more portable perfusion equipment, and new safety features on tools. The stabilization kits used in the field are being revisited and reduced in size so technicians can get to the patients bedside more easily.

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[Recap]

The next speaker from Alcor was Stephen Van Sickle, Executive Director, discussing the “Research Direction at Alcor.”

There was a time when Alcor did not conduct much research, focusing instead on their services and gaining new members. However, eventually Alcor leaders decided that research could definitely help the institution.

Van Sickle said that research is important because it brings in “key personnel” and provides valuable training to Alcor employees. Alcor chooses questions to research that specifically relate to technology and procedures used so that they can be improved.

In years past, Alcor experimented on dogs. Now they are using a rat model system, because of the complexity, time, labor and expense savings compared to the use of dogs. A laboratory has been built around this research direction. One of the complications has been developing equipment appropriate for the size of a rat, compared to established equipment for humans and other organism.

With this rat model, Alcor will begin developing experiments in cryoprotection, ischemia, and hypothermia. For example, Alcor will try to determine the level of cryoprotectants that is most effective for eventual recovery.

Van Sickle emphasized that research in cryogenics will not likely lead to a sudden breakthrough in cryonics and “incremental progress is what is needed.”

Another line of research important to Alcor is how to minimize fracturing during the vitrification process. Fracturing occurs prior to the vitrification temperature, measured by an acoustic sensor placed on the head to listen for fracturing events in the brain. They hope to look at the stresses involved to try to minimize them with future procedures and tecnologies. One possible technique to be tested is warming up the body very briefly during the cooling down process to relieve stresses before heading back toward colder temperatures.

Technology trends and continued research will allow Alcor to better monitor patients during the cryonics process to gain useful statistics. They will test new tools for monitor cryoprotection, like NIR fiber optic spectroscopy.

[Commentary]

There has been a lot of focus in the first few talks about the important of research to Alcor. Instead of simply providing just a body preservation service, they seek to improve the technology while hoping to prove the theory of cryonics. They are now laying the groundwork for the rat model system.

The Alcor philosophy of “slow and steady” progress sounds like an approach anyone doing research should take. Research can be tedious, long, and arduous, but remains absolutely necessary for progress.

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[Commentary]

Break time! Time to mingle, network, eat snacks, or catchup on liveblogging…

The accommodations are very nice here at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort. About 100 people are in the audience, with water, gum drops, and notepads on the tables. Three livebloggers are sitting here at a table on a side aisle: Simone Syed, President of h+ at the University of Arizona, blogging for the Center for Responsible Nanotechnology (CRN); John Schloendorn, LysoSENS researcher, blogging for the Alcor blog, and me.

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[Recap]

Brian Wowk discussed cryobiology, the field of cold tolerance in nature and cryopreservation of biological material. In nature, organism survive freezing temperatures by ice avoidance and ice tolerance, using cellular “antifreeze” or cryoprotectants. By studying these organism, researchers hope to apply their findings to improving cryonics.

The use of cryoprotectants allows cells to exist in stasis indefinitely, with minimal damage. Tissues and organs have been successfully preserved, demonstrating the technology on short time-scales and limited scope.

Researchers have developed synthetic molecules based on antifreeze proteins in some organisms that are improved with ice blockers that prevent ice formation. Wowk works with organs, such as rabbit kidneys, to develop better cryoprotectants. The organ is vitrified. Biochemical reactions can then be measured to determine if they have slowed down significantly to suggest little change over not just hours, but thousands of years.

Wowk then spent some time describing the process of cryonics in humans. Much time is involved, time in which the body can further decay. Every moment is precious to place the body in stasis and stop biochemical reactions.

One question very important to researchers and Alcor members alike is whether or not memory is truly preserved during cryonics. Research to date suggests that the “basic machinery” of memory are in fact preserved, but preservation of the actual memories themselves is not clear. Even though vitrification causes less damage than freezing, there are still problems, including fracturing and possible toxicity of cryoprotectants.

[Commentary]

One of the visuals used by Wowk was an image of solutions and organs with and without cryoprotectants at -125 degrees Celsius. On the left was a typical frozen liquid, opaque and crystalized. On the right was see-through vitrification and a pristine looking organ. Very effective. To the layperson, though, this Alcor focus on the desirability of vitrification versus freezing may come across as technobabble. The use of images is helpful, but what would truly be inspiring would be the demonstration of reanimation of vitrified organs. Some work has gone into this, with warming of tissues to determine the extent of damage.

Like transhumanism and other related topics, more effective marketing of cryonics is required to spread the idea. For members of Alcor, a talk like this is probably effective, but it will not convince the layperson to sign up for Alcor services and cryonics upon their death. For people that have already signed up, what is the point of this type of recap? I think members might actually be more interested in the cutting edge of the technology, and near-term improvements.

Instead of images of procedures used to cryoprotect a new patient, video might be more effective. Sure, not everyone wants to see the gore of operation, but then again, gore speaks louder than dry graphics. Better yet, a vat of vitrified organs on stage, even rabbit organs, might be a powerful demonstration of technology at work.

Theoretically, recovery appears to be possible. However, there are still so many details yet to be researched. I have a new appreciation for Steve Bridges’ insistence that much more research is required to further explore cryonics.

Wowk addressed the ethics of cryonics when resusciation has not yet been proven. I have personally never understood the ethical problems, because upon death there really are not ethical problems. What happens to the body will not, obviously, matter to the person who is dead. If there is little chance of recovery, this is still more of a chance than burial and cremation can offer. Of course, to people who believe in an afterlife, the idea of recovery in the material world may be an affront, though it is unclear why they should care if they do not themselves choose the cryonics option.

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When people die, some of them are buried in a plot in a graveyard. Others choose cremation their remains kept in an urn (perhaps after some of their remains are sprinkled in favorite locations around the Earth.) For even fewer, they might donate their body for research, with anything left over arranged as above. For most, these are the only options for dealing with the body upon death.

Yet another option exists, but one with a long history of controversy and debate: cryonics.

The idea is simple. Instead of burying or cremating, the remains of a person who died are frozen. Unlike the other options, however, cryonics is meant to be a temporary solution to a larger problem than just disposing of remains. To members of cryonics services, the technology serves as a vessel into a future, a future in which their bodies will be repaired and then reanimated.

Unlike ideas of an afterlife, cryonics is deeply rooted in materialism. If the essence of an individual is not a supernatural entity, but an emergent pattern from physical processes, then if the material of that person can be conserved and maintained, it should be possible to reawaken that person when the appropriate material.

Frontier Channel is live at the 7th Alcor Conference and will be providing recaps of the speakers’ presentations as they occur.

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Frontier Channel will be liveblogging this weekend from Scottsdale, AZ, USA for the 7th Alcor Conference. The three day event will bring together experts in cryobiology, life extension research, and nanotechnology to present the latest information about cryonics technology, politics, ethics, and law. Check out Frontier Channel throughout the day Saturday, October 6 and Sunday, October 7 for our coverage.