Biography
Biography: William Ritchie
Abstract
Mammalian cells as well as gametes and embryos have been stored frozen under liquid Nitrogen for many years. Sperm was first cryopreserved around 1953. Freezing and storage of tissues and cells in liquid nitrogen at -196â°C prevents biological activity of the tissue including activity which would result in cell death. Storage under liquid nitrogen is thought to provide indefinite safe storage so long as the temperature does not rise above the “Glass Transition” point which occurs at -136â°C, this is the temperature where biological activity is seen to start occurring and so deterioration begins.
Can tissues be stored safely in a dry state without damage occurring to the cells? If this can be perfected it would cut the cost of biobanking considerably!
