Introduction

Abstract

Dormancy is a general term describing a state whereby metabolism and normal progression of life activities and development are dramatically reduced or brought to a halt. Dormancy facilitates the survival of organisms during environmental conditions that cannot support the regular course of life. Many organisms have evolved the capacity to enter dormancy and exit from it. Common pathways have been identified in several forms, in spite of the diversity and complexity in the survival strategies during dormancy in organisms displaying it. Revealing the mode of regulation of these pathways and the occurrence of other functions associated with dormancy are some of the great future challenges. This may open the way for revealing how cells, tissues or entire organisms can be made dormant or be revived effectively and lead to preserving cells, tissues and organs at ambient temperatures. These aspirations motivated the publication of this book. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.