Cryobiology

From ArticleWorld

Cryobiology studies the effects of low temperatures on living things and their organs, tissues and cells. This study has applications in three major fields which are cryonics, cryopreservation and cryosurgery.

Definitions

Cryobiology as previously defined is the study of the effect of low temperatures on organisms. This knowledge is most often utilized in the field of cryopreservation. This field is concerned with the process of preservation by cooling to low temperatures like 80°C or -196°C. Biological activity ceases at these temperatures so the cell is preserved and cell death also prevented. Vitrification solutions must however be used to prevent fatal cell damage.

Other related fields include cryogenics which deals with the study of low temperatures as a branch of physics and cryonics a field that is not widely accepted as a science that seeks to cryopreserve organisms with the intent of reviving them in the future.

History

The use of cryobiology has been traced back to ancient times. It has been determined that the use of low temperatures in medicine dates back to ancient Egypt as far back as 2500 BC. It was used mainly as a means to stop bleeding and swelling.

In modern times low temperatures were used on animals to study the effects of exposure by Robert Boyle. Sperm was the first biological substance to be cryopreserved successfully. After this there was greater use as in the preservation of organ, tissues and cells. Blood and semen, tissue suspensions can now be preserved almost indefinitely at freezing temperatures under liquid nitrogen. Transplant organ are usually stored under cool conditions. This technology has also enabled the storage of eggs, embryos and sperm for use in fertility treatments and research.