Biostasis
Encyclopedia
Biostasis is the ability of an organism
to tolerate environmental changes without having to actively adapt to them. The word is also used as a synonym for cryostasis
or cryonics
. It is found in organisms that live in habitats that may encounter unfavourable living conditions (i.e. drought, freezing, a change in pH, pressure, or temperature). Insects undergo diapause
, which allows them to survive winter and other events. Diapause may be obligatory (required for the insect to survive) or facultative (the insect is able to undergo change before the initiating event arrives).
Biostasis in humans, as a future medical technique, has been described by Eric Drexler in his 1986 book, Engines of Creation: The Coming Era of Nanotechnology.
Organism
In biology, an organism is any contiguous living system . In at least some form, all organisms are capable of response to stimuli, reproduction, growth and development, and maintenance of homoeostasis as a stable whole.An organism may either be unicellular or, as in the case of humans, comprise...
to tolerate environmental changes without having to actively adapt to them. The word is also used as a synonym for cryostasis
Cryostasis
Cryostasis may refer to:In science and medicine:* Cryopreservation - Process of cooling to low sub-zero temperatures.* Cryostasis - The reversible cryopreservation of live biological objects.In games:...
or cryonics
Cryonics
Cryonics is the low-temperature preservation of humans and animals who can no longer be sustained by contemporary medicine, with the hope that healing and resuscitation may be possible in the future. Cryopreservation of people or large animals is not reversible with current technology...
. It is found in organisms that live in habitats that may encounter unfavourable living conditions (i.e. drought, freezing, a change in pH, pressure, or temperature). Insects undergo diapause
Diapause
Diapause is the delay in development in response to regularly and recurring periods of adverse environmental conditions. It is considered to be a physiological state of dormancy with very specific initiating and inhibiting conditions...
, which allows them to survive winter and other events. Diapause may be obligatory (required for the insect to survive) or facultative (the insect is able to undergo change before the initiating event arrives).
Biostasis in humans, as a future medical technique, has been described by Eric Drexler in his 1986 book, Engines of Creation: The Coming Era of Nanotechnology.