cryobiology is the branch of biology that studies the effects of low temperatures on living things within earth's cryosphere or in science. the word cryobiology is derived from the greek words cryo = cold, bios = life, and logos = science. in practice, cryobiology is the study of biological material or systems at temperatures below normal. materials or systems studied may include proteins, cells, tissues, organs, or whole organisms. temperatures may range from moderately hypothermic conditions to cryogenic temperatures. == areas of study == at least six major areas of cryobiology can be identified: 1) study of cold-adaptation of microorganisms, plants (cold hardiness), and animals, both invertebrates and vertebrates (including hibernation), 2) cryopreservation of cells, tissues, gametes, and embryos of animal and human origin for (medical) purposes of long-term storage by cooling to temperatures below the freezing point of water. this usually requires the addition of substances which protect the cells during freezing and thawing (cryoprotectants), 3) preservation of organs under hypothermic conditions for transplantation, 4) lyophilization (freeze-drying) of pharmaceuticals, 5) cryosurgery, a (minimally) invasive approach for the destruction of unhealthy tissue using cryogenic gases/fluids, and 6) physics of supercooling, ice nucleation/growth and mechanical engineering aspects of heat transfer during cooling and warming, as applied to biological systems. cryobiology would include cryonics, the low temperature preservation of humans and mammals with the intention of future revival, although this is not part of mainstream cryobiology, depending heavily on speculative technology yet to be invented. several of these areas of study rely on cryogenics, the branch of physics and engineering that studies the production and use of very low temperatures ==cryopreservation in nature== many living organisms are able to tolerate prolonged periods of time at temperatures below the freezing point of water. most living organisms accumulate cryoprotectants such as antinucleating proteins, polyols, and glucose to protect themselves against frost damage by sharp ice crystals. most plants, in particular, can safely reach temperatures of &minus;4Â°c to &minus;12Â°c. ===bacteria=== three species of bacteria, carnobacterium pleistocenium, chryseobacterium greenlandensis. and herminiimonas glaciei, have reportedly been revived after surviving for thousands of years frozen in ice. certain bacteria, notably pseudomonas syringae, produce specialized proteins that serve as potent ice nucleators, which they use to force ice forma
Cryobiology Cryogenics Cryonics Phase_transitions