Cryoconservation of animal genetic resources

Cryopreservation is a way to store animal genetic material for a very long time in a very cold temperature. It is like putting an animal on pause! Scientists put small samples of an animal's DNA into a special type of cup (called a cryovial) and then plunge it into a bath of liquid nitrogen, which is a very cold liquid that keeps the sample at a temperature of -196°C. This process stops the samples from decaying and keeps them safe for future use. Scientists can then use the samples later to study the animal's genes and create new medicines, new food sources, or even bring back extinct species.