Cryonic refers to the preservation of cells, tissues, organs and even the human body in cold sub-zero temperatures. This essay explores the belief that one day these bodies can be reanimated.
Cryonics is an intricate topic, it is more interesting today than what it was in the past and it keeps on growing. Where we are heading, death needs not be the sole recourse in challenge of deadly diseases. Cryonic human preservation is to some a possibility and to others a utopian idea. Cryobiologists do firmly believe that it will be possible to one day revive people who have died from incurable diseases in the future. The process of freezing human bodies using cryogenics is called cryonic suspension. It is critical to understand that cryonic suspension is illegal to perform while an individual is alive. In other words, for an individual to undergo cryonic suspension he must be declared legally dead, which by definition is when the heart stops to beat. Nevertheless, ‘legal death’ and ‘total death’ are two unparallel issues according to scientists. Total death occurs only when the brain is totally paralyzed. In legal death the cellular brain functions continue. This makes it possible to preserve these very cellular structures and theoretically, to reanimate individuals once technology enables to do so.
The fact that we are challenging destiny, brings the question whether deathlessness is scientifically reachable. Man has frequently challenged belief and concepts taken-for-granted such as death. The earth was before Galileo Galilei (1564 -1642), considered flat and the center of the universe, where the sun was revolving around the earth. Moreover, when medical scientists first brought the idea of transplantation of organs such as the heart, people were cynic and laughed at it as an unfeasible possibility. People believed it to be impossible just like cryonic human preservation today. These are only a few accomplishments that scientists have explored as possible. There is no doubt that what is possible in respect to our knowledge is limitless. In the future, many taken-for-granted issues such as birth and death, life cycle of universe and much more will be discovered. Although no solid proof exists that the preserved body will be possibly revived in the future, there is a mild chance and scientists are ready to take.
The evolution of cryonics has seen progress. In the past, the freezing process of body was full of loopholes. The particular freezing process used developed ice crystals, which caused damage to cellular structures. Recently, a new process of preservation has been discovered. It is called vitrification and it overcomes the problem of ice-crystal formation. Tissues and organs are kept in a viscous glassy state. According to Ralph, C. Merkle, Ph.D. director of Alcor Foundation and Foresight Institute, this method is ‘expected’ to preserve personality and memory of humans being. The term expected has been used as no-one has yet been brought back to life. The vitrification of human organs is usually selective. At Alcor more than 80% of the preserved body consist of only heads. This is called neuropreservation. The main reasons why people opt for neuropreservation is the price. The brain is what constitutes identify and without this identity your body can be a cloned to any other personality. Theoretically, preserving the head will enable one to live again with the same mind and memory.
Moreover, vitrification is not totally perfect. There are likely shortcomings associated with this method of preserving human organs such as the brain. The temperature of storing the brain is concentrated on the outer layer and less in the inner layer. This might be considered as a minor issue in the temperature that we are considering. However, the extremity of the cooling temperature may also induce micro-fractures and other damage at micro-cellular levels. To overcome these downfalls, the solutions are predicted to lie in the hands of nano-technology. It is also expected that stem cell therapies will have stronger regenerative effects in the future making it possible to eliminate these minor drawbacks associated with vitrification.
The Cryonic Process
The freezing process begins once your prescribed organ (s) arrives at the cryonic facility. The first step in preserving your organ consists of removing water from cells and then substituting it with glycerol-based chemicals. This mixture is known as acryoprotectant (a type of antifreeze for humans). The aim of this first phase is to avoid ice formation and is first step in the vitrification process. Once water has completely been replaced by cryprotectant the body will be cooled down to -130 degree Celsius (-202 F), this ends the virtrification process. The following step will consist of putting the organ (body) into a separate container. It is a metal tank, which is full of liquid nitrogen. The temperature in the container is -196 degrees Celsius (-320 F). For precautionary measures, the organ or body will be stored head-down. This would prevent the brain from getting any damage if ever any leakage in the tank occurs.
A gigantic cryo-preservation building is already going to be constructed on six-acres of land, nonetheless, the site is yet to be decided. It is an all-encompassing concrete building. The finest design has been used to make the structure resistant against possible devastating natural calamities that can befall upon it. The security system is intent to make it impossible for any man made attack such as terrorism. In the complex configuration, castles, forts, research laboratories, nuclear containment shelters, military bunkers and prisons are integrated. Preservation of human organs is taking another step ahead.
Research in life extension is evolving fast. Aging is becoming increasingly a manipulative and controlled aspect as cures are being provided for diseases. However, immortality has not yet been unlocked but for those who are unable to live up to that time, can be preserved. They can be frozen until resuscitation is feasible through nanotechnology, transplantation and regenerative techniques. Cryobiologists and longevity researchers are all contributing towards unprecedented accomplishment to human lifespan that might soon have to be re-defined.
Further Research: Alcor, Timship
Anti Aging, Bioscience, Immortality, Longevity, Nanotechnology, Stem cells
Fri, May 21, 2010
Anti Aging, Bioscience, Immortality, Longevity, Nanotechnology, Stem cells