Cell Line

Cell lines are commonly used in biomedical research for various purposes, including studying cellular processes, investigating disease mechanisms, testing drug efficacy and toxicity, and producing biopharmaceuticals. They serve as valuable tools because they can be propagated indefinitely under controlled conditions, allowing researchers to conduct experiments in a consistent and reproducible manner.

There are numerous cell lines available, each with its own unique characteristics and properties. Some cell lines are derived from human tissues, while others come from animals such as mice, rats, or monkeys. Additionally, cell lines can be categorized based on their tissue or organ of origin, their genetic makeup, their physiological properties, and their behavior in culture.

Popular examples of cell lines include:

1. HeLa cells: Derived from cervical cancer cells taken from Henrietta Lacks in 1951, these cells are among the most widely used in research.
2. HEK293 cells: Human embryonic kidney cells that are commonly used for protein expression and viral vector production.

Jurkat cells: Human T lymphocytes derived from a patient with acute T-cell leukemia, often used in immunology research.

CHO cells: Chinese hamster ovary cells, widely used in biopharmaceutical production due to their ability to produce complex proteins.

NIH/3T3 cells: Mouse fibroblast cells that are commonly used for studying cell signaling, transformation, and proliferation.