Showing posts with label cryosurgery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cryosurgery. Show all posts

20 November 2012

Studying the Behavior of Antifreeze Molecules For Commercial, Industrial, and Medical Applications


Scientists at New York University are studying the behavior of antifreeze molecules that one day can open up applications in the commercial, industrial, and medical fields.

Antifreeze proteins (AFP) are naturally occurring proteins that inhibit the formation of ice crystals when water temperature drops to freezing levels.

These proteins are usually found in organisms that live in subzero environments such as Antarctica. Certain vertebrates, plants, fungi and bacteria can inhibit the growth and recrystallization of ice in their bodies allowing them to survive in these temperatures.