Then in the late 1960s, animal biologist Arthur DeVries was able to isolate the antifreeze protein through his investigation of Antarctic fish.
Most other notothenioid fish and the majority of all Antarctic fish, including smaller toothfish, are confined to the bottom.
This Antarctic marine fish is one of several in the region which produce antifreeze glycopeptides as an adaptation against the extreme cold of Antarctic waters.
Australia wants an Antarctic fish prized in American and Japanese restaurants given international protection against poachers who it says are decimating stocks.
The expansion features exhibits with king penguins and gentoo penguins, as well as many other Antarctic fish, a first for Australia.
Antarctic fish and insects pump their cold bodies full of antifreeze to resist becoming frozen solid.
Australia has begun a campaign against international pirates plundering its declining stocks of Antarctic fish.
But a new study of Antarctic fish reveals a different origin for their antifreeze proteins.
One Antarctic fish, Pagothenia, is irresistibly drawn to shrimps, which vibrate at 40 hertz (cycles per second).
An Antarctic fish makes a type of antifreeze in its body that can do the same within its organs to keep ice crystals from forming.