Question

Give an account on Cryopreservation.

Answer 1

Cryopreservation, also known as Cryo-conservation, is a process by which protoplasts, cells, tissues, organelles, organs, extracellular matrix, enzymes, or any other biological materials are subjected to preservation by cooling to a very low-temperature of-196°C using liquid nitrogen. At this extremely low temperature, any enzymatic or chemical activity of the biological material will be totally stopped and this leads to the preservation of material in dormant status.

Later these materials can be activated by bringing to room temperature slowly for any experimental work. Protective agents like dimethyl sulphoxide, glycerol, or sucrose are added before the cryopreservation process. These protective agents are called cryoprotectants since they protect the cells, or tissues from the stress of freezing temperature.