ScienceAugust 21, 2026
cryopreserved
KRY-oh-pri-zervd
Definition
Maintained or stored in a frozen state, usually at extremely low temperatures, to preserve biological material for future use.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek 'kryos' meaning 'icy cold' and the Latin 'praeservare' meaning 'to keep or guard before'. It describes the modern scientific practice of using freezing techniques to protect biological specimens from decay.
In the news
The article explains that somatic cells from endangered animals are cryopreserved in biobanks, which allows scientists to potentially use that genetic material for future cloning efforts.
Gene Editing Technique Produced Fertile Female Clones From Male Mice In "Strange And Fascinating" Experiment That Could Help Endangered Species
Read the full article ↗IFLScience