Final answer:
Viral tissues can be stored at ultra-low temperatures in an ultra-low freezer or liquid nitrogen tanks for long-term storage, preserving their viability by stopping biological degradation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alternative Methods for Storing Viral Tissues
Viral tissues require particular storage conditions since viruses need a living host for replication. Besides the common method of refrigeration, there are several alternative methods to store viral tissues. One such method involves freezing the tissues at ultra-low temperatures to ensure their viability over extended periods. This can be achieved in an ultra-low freezer, which maintains temperatures below -70°C, or in liquid nitrogen tanks, where temperatures can plunge even lower than -196°C. These methods are essential for long-term storage and preserving the integrity of the viral tissues.
It's important to note that such ultra-low temperatures are crucial as they halt biological processes that could lead to the degradation of the viral specimens. Additionally, these storage techniques are also commonly used in the field of biological anthropology and archaeology for the preservation of organic material, which can also include animal and human remains.