# Key Points from Transhumanist IRC Discussion

• Researchers discussed microarray technology, noting Affymetrix's genechip mouse genome arrays and how their human chips with fewer than a million SNPs have been outcompeted by Illumina's technology in the genomics market.

• The conversation explored natural cryopreservation mechanisms in wood frogs, which survive freezing to -20°C by producing glucose as a cryoprotectant and strategically moving water from organs to body cavities.

• Mike Darwin's pioneering cryonics research was highlighted, particularly his work with fluorocarbon perfusion in dogs after vitrification to achieve cooling rates of 5°C per minute, and his observations about intranasal insulin's potential benefits for Alzheimer's.

• Participants proposed developing a "biologist-friendly front end" for LinuxCNC to bridge the gap between biological research and engineering tools, potentially automating lab work through G-code generation.

• The group discussed primate torpor as a natural state of dormancy that appears phylogenetically close to humans, with research focusing on MAPK pathways that regulate tissue responses during torpor states.

• A novel research direction was proposed involving directed evolution and selective breeding to develop organs more resistant to freezing damage, specifically selecting for organisms that make beneficial anatomical changes during freezing or in preparation for it.

• The discussion emphasized an incremental approach to cryonics research, focusing on successful organ preservation techniques before attempting full organism preservation and revival.