Are ozobranchid leeches the key to low-temperature preservation of organs? |
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HP: A team of Japanese researchers recently discovered that Ozobranchus jantseanus is capable of surviving extremely cold temperatures. And while the so-called super leech's resistance to the cold is remarkable in its own right, scientists are interested in learning how the organism is capable of such a feat since it could hold the key to cryopreservation, the process of preserving cells and tissues at sub-zero temperatures. "Ozobranchid leeches have a mysterious mechanism to prevent freezing. I want to get to the heart of the matter," researcher Takahiro Kikawada said, according to The Asahi Shimbun.
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