Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!nanotech From: ho4cad!kqb@att.att.com Newsgroups: sci.nanotech Subject: Re: biostasis in sugar Message-ID: Date: 19 Jun 89 02:00:01 GMT Sender: nanotech@athos.rutgers.edu Lines: 19 Approved: nanotech@aramis.rutgers.edu The Aug. 2, 1988 message #6 of the cryonics mailing list (on preservation alternatives) had some references on "sugarstasis": . . . The cover article of the Feb. 13, 1988 issue of Science News describes some microorganisms that survive dessication by forming hydrogen bonds between the cell membranes and sugars such as trehalose. These microorganisms automatically come back to life when you add water! Also, the Aug. 29, 1987 Science News article on vitrification mentioned a combination of vitrification and freeze- drying enabling room temperature storage of single cells. Freeze-drying whole organs (or bodies) would be much more difficult and time-consuming, though, so it's not clear that this approach will ever be a useful alternative to cryonic suspension. . . . - Kevin Q. Brown ...att!ho4cad!kqb kqb@ho4cad.ATT.COM Standard Disclaimer := These are my opinions, not my employer's.