Cryopreservation is the process of preserving biological tissue or cells at extremely low temperatures, commonly used for sperm, embryos, eggs, and plant seeds. The process involves replacing the liquid in the tissue with an antifreeze-like solution to prevent cell destruction. Cryopreservation is used for artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, and preserving seeds and plant tissue. The process is not simply freezing the tissue, but rather preserving it in a state similar to suspended animation.
Cryopreservation is a method of preserving biological tissue or cells at extremely low temperatures. While there are many applications of cryopreservation, the most common uses of the process are the preservation of sperm, embryos, eggs and plant seeds. There is also a variant of the process known as cryogenics which seeks to preserve people after death in hopes of reviving them in the future.
Cryopreservation occurs when tissue is frozen, usually in liquid nitrogen, until it reaches a temperature range of at least -148 degrees Fahrenheit (-100 degrees Celsius). At these temperatures, the tissue is preserved in a state similar to that of suspended animation. The metabolic processes of biological tissue slow down dramatically in extreme cold, which in turn slows down the natural process of decomposition. The word cryopreservation comes from the Greek word kryos, which means cold.
The cryopreservation process is not simply freezing the tissue to be preserved. During the freezing process, the liquids in the cells expand as they solidify. This expansion would cause destruction of the cells and would negate any benefit of freezing biological tissue. Cryopreservation usually involves replacing the liquid in the tissue with an antifreeze-like solution that can withstand the extreme temperatures of the cold.
Sperm is typically stored for the purpose of artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization. When a male provides a semen sample, the sample is frozen between temperatures of -175 degrees Fahrenheit (-115 degrees Celsius) and -320 degrees Fahrenheit (-196 degrees Celsius) to keep the sample viable until required. its use. Sperm has a maximum shelf life of only two to four days, so if sperm is not stored, it can be significantly more difficult to perform artificial insemination or IVF at a convenient and effective time.
Artificial insemination is a method of inserting sperm into the female reproductive organs with the aim of achieving pregnancy. The first case of human birth following the use of cryopreserved sperm occurred in the early 1950s. Embryos can be cryopreserved for in vitro fertilization. Once an egg has been fertilized, the embryo can be stored for an extended period of time for future use. The first case of human birth from an embryo that had been cryopreserved was reported in the early 1980s.
Cryopreservation can also be used to preserve seeds and plant tissue. Seeds are often frozen to maintain a diverse genetic record. Seeds are often stored for use in the event of large-scale destruction of rare or endangered plants. The stored seeds can then be used to regenerate vegetable crops.
Some plants are not prolific seed producers, otherwise their seeds would no longer be viable if frozen. In these cases, plant tissue or cells can be cryopreserved. Cryopreservation of tissues and cells would allow plants to regenerate without the use of seeds.
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