CRYOGENIC ROSES

PURPOSE• Cryogenics is the science of producing and studying low-

temperature environments. The word cryogenics comes from the Greek word "kryos," meaning cold; combined with a shortened form of the English verb "to generate," it has come to mean the generation of temperatures well below those of normal human experience.

• • Currently cells, tissues, blood vessels, and some small animal

organs can be reversibly cryopreserved. Some very small animals, such as water bears can naturally survive preservation at cryogenic temperatures. Wood frogs can survive for a few months in a partially frozen state a few degrees below freezing, but this is not true cryopreservation. Plant’s tissues can also be cryopreserved and stay in good, fresh condition.

QUESTION

• Can ice be used to preserve once-living things?

HYPOTHESIS

• Ice can preserve once-living things.

MATERIALS:

• -Five rose buds just beggining to open

• -Four plastic bowls

• -Water

PROCEDURE

OBSERVATIONS AND RESULTS

• In the freezer, on the temperature of -35° C, we have put samples 1, 2, 3 and 4 (the bottles filled with water in which each rose has been submerged in one bottle). One rose, which we kept in a vase filled with water, has served to us as a control sample. We have kept our control sample on a room temperature ( 23° C). The measurings have been made after the first week, after second week, after third week and after fourth week. The results are shown in the chart 1.

THE CONCLUSION

• As the conclusion of this experiment, our hypothesis has been confirmed. We have predicted that ice can be used in order to save once-living things. The results of measurings have shown that our control sample (the rose on a room temperature) changed its characteristics (color, fragrance, texture and apperance) while the samples 1, 2, 3, 4 have stayed relatively the same.