What technique allows a mouse strain to be taken 'off the shelf' but still be available for use when needed?

What technique allows a mouse strain to be taken 'off the shelf' but still be available for use when needed?

• A. Southern blot
• B. Freeze-drying eggs
• C. Artificial insemination
• D. Cryopreservation

Answer: (D)

Storing reproductive material at very low temperatures lets a mouse strain be kept in reserve and brought back into use whenever needed. Cryopreservation of embryos or sperm in liquid nitrogen preserves viability so the strain can be revived later by thawing and using assisted reproductive techniques or embryo transfer. This off-the-shelf approach keeps valuable lines secure, saves space, and protects them from loss or unintended changes. Other methods don’t provide that long‑term storage capability. A Southern blot is a DNA analysis technique and doesn’t store strains for future use. Freeze-drying eggs isn’t a reliable, routine method for maintaining viable mouse strains. Artificial insemination moves genetics without offering a true off-the-shelf repository for long-term storage.

Storing reproductive material at very low temperatures lets a mouse strain be kept in reserve and brought back into use whenever needed. Cryopreservation of embryos or sperm in liquid nitrogen preserves viability so the strain can be revived later by thawing and using assisted reproductive techniques or embryo transfer. This off-the-shelf approach keeps valuable lines secure, saves space, and protects them from loss or unintended changes.

Other methods don’t provide that long‑term storage capability. A Southern blot is a DNA analysis technique and doesn’t store strains for future use. Freeze-drying eggs isn’t a reliable, routine method for maintaining viable mouse strains. Artificial insemination moves genetics without offering a true off-the-shelf repository for long-term storage.