Kryosäilytys

Kryosäilytys, also known as cryopreservation or cryoconservation, is a process by which biological materials are preserved by cooling them to very low temperatures, typically below -130 °C. At these temperatures, biological activity, including the degradation processes that lead to death, is effectively halted. The most common method involves cooling samples in liquid nitrogen at -196 °C.

The primary goal of kryosäilytys is to maintain the viability and integrity of biological samples for future use. This can include cells, tissues, organs, and even whole organisms. Various techniques are employed, depending on the type of sample. For cells, cryoprotective agents are often used to prevent the formation of ice crystals, which can damage cell structures. Vitrification, a process where the sample is cooled so rapidly that ice crystals do not form, is another important method.

Kryosäilytys has significant applications in several fields. In medicine, it is used to preserve blood cells, sperm, eggs, and embryos for fertility treatments and research. It is also crucial for banking tissues like bone marrow and stem cells. In scientific research, it allows for the long-term storage of cell lines, microorganisms, and genetic material for study and conservation. The potential for reviving extinct species through genetic material preserved via kryosäilytys is also a subject of ongoing research and public interest.