Life in the Frozen State
by Erica E. Benson (Editor), Erica Benson (Editor), Nick Lane (Editor),
Barry Fuller, Barry J. Fuller (Editor), Barry Eric Benson
Hardcover: 696 pages
Publisher: Taylor & Francis; 1 edition (May 27, 2004)
ISBN: 0415247004
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Cryobiology is the study of living things at low temperatures. Refrigeration
or freezing prevents the decay of living things, but science has recently
begun to explore whether cold not only prevents decay, but also preserves
life. An interdisciplinary subject that combines fundamental research on
organisms adapted to natural freezing stresses and emerging areas of applied
biotechnology and biology, cryobiology is starting to play an increasingly
important role in medicine, agriculture, horticulture and forestry, as well
as the conservation of endangered or economically important plant, animal
and microbial species. Life in the Frozen State is a comprehensive review of
the effects of freezing on living organisms. It evaluates how this knowledge
can be applied to benefit humanity through advances in healthcare and
conservation. A major feature of the book is the combining of fundamental
theory and practice across a wide range of species and applications. This
provides a unique opportunity to explore the subject in a multidisciplinary
context. Historically, some of the most exciting advances in low temperature
research have come from cross-discipline interaction, and this book provides
a timely stimulus for further advances in cryobiology.