Cryogenetics AS
Cryogenetics offers services and technology for an effective fish reproduction. Our main service has traditionally been the cryopreservation of fish milt. Cryopreservation is a powerful tool for preservation of genetic diversity in wild species and as an integral part of both commercial aquaculture and other fish breeding programs. In addition to cryopreservation and storage services the company also offers several other products and services helping to secure more effective fish reproduction. These include technology for fresh storage of milt, milt quality evaluation and gender testing of fingerlings.
Company details
Find locations served, office locations
- Business Type:
- Service provider
- Industry Type:
- Aquaculture
- Market Focus:
- Globally (various continents)
This company also provides solutions for other industrial applications.
Please, visit the following links for more info:
About Us
Our vision: “Preserving Aquatic Genes”
Services are currently offered for the following species:
- Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)
- Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
- Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)
- Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
- Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus)
- Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)
- Halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus)
- Zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Cryogenetics also offers to develop cryopreservation protocols for other species based on customer needs.
The technology
Cryogenetics is the sole provider of unique technology developed in-house. Cryogenetics' technology has both the capacity and efficiency needed for seamless integration of cryopreservation technology in industrial scale, conservation or breeding operations. This is a result of a strong focus on applied R&D over nearly a decade.
Cryogenetics worldwide
Most of the R&D work is done at the company's headquarter in Hamar, Norway. In addition, our products are extensively tested out in the field.
Cryogenetics wants to be located where our customers are. As a consequence of this there are special designed cryo-laboratories located in following countries:
- Norway (serving European customers)
- Canada (serving North American customers)
- Chile (serving South American customers)
- USA (serving North American customers, mainly research institutions working with zebrafish)
What is Cryopreservation?
Cryopreservation is the process of freezing biological material at extreme temperatures; like -196 °C in liquid nitrogen.
At these low temperatures all biological activities stop, including the biochemical reactions that lead to cell death. This preservation method in theory makes it possible to store living cells for centuries.
The challenge of cryopreservation is to help cells to survive both cooling to extreme temperatures and thawing back to physiological conditions. Intracellular freezing in particular is a critical issue that has to be avoided to keep the cell membrane intact and the cells alive. The crucial elements to escape this are the freezing rate (degrees per minute) and the composition of the freezing medium used. The freezing medium generally consists of a diluter, a protein source and a cryoprotectant. The choice of most suitable cryoprotectant will influence the result and varies between different cells and different species.
Cryopreservation technology is important in breeding programs to have access to desired genes, but also it gives an opportunity to save endangered species.