Future Tense Frozen frogs, tissues and cells — the health and environmental benefits of keeping it chill
Jan 1, 2026
Join Ken Storey, a cryobiology expert, Saffron Bryant, a physics lecturer, Marlys Houck, curator of San Diego's Frozen Zoo, and Justine O’Brien, a conservation science manager, as they explore the fascinating world of frozen frogs and their potential for preserving human organs. Discover how wood frogs survive freezing through unique metabolic adaptations and how these insights could revolutionize organ preservation. The discussion also covers biodiversity conservation, the Frozen Zoo's role in saving species, and innovative cryopreservation techniques for corals.
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How Wood Frogs Cryopreserve Themselves
- Wood frogs survive winter by inducing controlled ice formation across their bodies using nucleating proteins and huge intracellular glucose loads.
- These adaptations let frogs maintain a low metabolism and protect cells at high subzero temperatures.
Intracellular Sugar And MicroRNA Protect Cells
- Frogs flood cells with glucose as an intracellular antifreeze, reaching blood concentrations far above humans to limit ice growth and preserve cell integrity.
- MicroRNA and metabolic shifts keep a low 'pilot light' of metabolism that enables survival through freezing and thawing.
Try High Subzero Freezing For Organs
- Explore high subzero freezing with added sugars as a pragmatic alternative to ultra-cold cryopreservation for organs.
- Researchers should adapt frog-inspired gentle freezing protocols stepwise on animal organs before moving to human tissues.