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From frogs to trees: Which organisms have inspired our cryonics?
Cryopreservation is a bioscience technology with great potential that can effectively preserve cells, tissues or organs. Its basic principle is to freeze biological materials to extremely low temperatures (such as −80 °C or −196 °C), thereby effectively stopping cell metabolism and reducing damage to biological materials. The potential of this technology is not limited to the long-distance transportation or long-term storage of biological samples, but also includes the possibility of creating sample banks. Among them, some of the organisms that inspired our freezing technology come from nature, such as trees, wood frogs and tardigrades. These organisms with unique cold-resistance have played an important role in the development of freezing technology.
An important step in cryoprotectant technology is the addition of molecules called cryoprotectants (CPAs) to the material to reduce the osmotic shock and physical stress experienced by the cells during the freezing process.
A model of natural cryopreservation technology
The wood frog is one of the amazing creatures that can tolerate freezing of its blood and tissues. They do this by accumulating urea before winter arrives, protecting their cells from damage when ice crystals form inside them. Biologist Dr. Kenneth B. Storey conducted in-depth research on the "frozen frog" phenomenon and revealed the biological principles behind this phenomenon.
"Wood frogs are able to survive many freeze/thaw events as long as no more than about 65% of their body water is frozen."
Also known as "water bears," tardigrades resist freezing by replacing much of their internal water with a sugar called trehalose, which prevents ice crystals from forming. The properties exhibited by these organisms not only spark the curiosity of scientists, but also provide potential solutions for how to develop new cryoprotection technologies.
Historical evolution of refrigeration technology
The research on cryopreservation technology can be traced back to the 1950s. One of the earliest theories was proposed by James Lovelock, who believed that freezing damage to red blood cells was largely due to the effects of osmotic pressure. As research deepens, the technology of freezing eggs has gradually matured and begun to extend to the freezing of human materials. In 1954, three pregnancies from frozen worm eggs demonstrated the feasibility of this technology.
"In 1967, James Bedford became the first human to be frozen and revived, an event that marked a new challenge for cryonics technology."
Although cryopreservation technology has developed rapidly, it is still accompanied by many risks. For example, ice crystals formed during the freezing process may cause damage to cells. However, many phenomena such as solution effects, cell dehydration and the formation of ice crystals inside cells make this technology challenging to apply.
Main methods of overcoming risks
As cryonics technology has evolved, scientists have developed a series of effective methods to overcome the damage caused by the freezing process. Among them, slow programmable freezing technology is widely used, and its process involves slowly cooling cells to −196 °C over several hours. This not only allows the cells to drain water gradually, but also reduces the mechanical damage to the cell membrane caused by the formation of ice crystals.
"By strictly controlling the cooling rate and using appropriate cryoprotectants, many biological specimens have successfully maintained their function and viability."
On the other hand, the birth of vitrification technology can effectively prevent the formation of ice crystals during the freezing process. This technology was introduced by Greg Fahy and William F. Rall in reproductive cryopreservation in the 1980s. , significantly improving the survival rate of cells and tissues.
Multiple applications of refrigeration technology
The application range of freezing technology is extremely wide, from sperm, embryos to eggs, and even plant tissues, all can be preserved by freezing. Not only that, the role of this technology in assisted reproduction and reproductive medicine is becoming increasingly important, bringing more hope to human fertility.
"For example, through cryopreservation, there have been cases where embryos have been successfully conceived and born naturally 27 years later."
Freezing technology also makes significant contributions to the protection of biodiversity and the preservation of plant seeds. Today, many green organizations and scientists around the world are working on how to more effectively preserve ecological resources in response to threats posed by climate change and human activities.
With the continuous advancement of science and technology, we can't help but wonder whether cryonics technology will be able to fully realize the resurrection of organisms in the future. How will this change human's understanding of the nature of life and attitude towards nature?
