This study aims at understanding the influence of antifreeze proteins (AFPs) from fishes on the freezing of biological cells in relation to cryopreservation from the viewpoint of bioheat and mass transfer. Human red blood cells were frozen in the physiological salines including 20% v/v glycerol with and without 20 mg ml(-1) AFPs. Due to the addition of AFPs, the morphology of the ice crystal changed dramatically from a dendritic appearance into a spicular appearance. The spicular ice crystal caused strong mechanical interaction between the ice crystals and the red blood cells, and the resultant complete destruction of the red blood cells. This suggests that the morphology of the ice crystal and its mechanical interaction with the cells influence the cell survival through the freezing.