Cryopreservation: History and Development

Abstract

Cryopreservation is an age-old technology which was practised in different forms. It has evolved from preserving cells in snow to liquid nitrogen. As necessity is the mother of invention, the need for mankind invents new technologies. Cryopreservation is also such a technology which helped increasing the livestock production. It is a technology which made human sperm bank and stem cell storage possible. In this chapter, various historical developments of cryopreservation in all fields of life science with special emphasis on fisheries are discussed.