Cells and Cell Lines

Cell culture and microbial culture techniques are essential for almost every aspect of biological research since modern microbiology started in the 19th century. The invention of microbial cultures of bacteria and yeast in sterile culture media allows selective growing of monoclonal cultures. From these cultures, competent cells can be generated for the use in transformation. Cell culture colloquially refers to cultures of animal cells, in which we differentiate between ex vivo cultures and immortalized cell lines. Ex vivo cultures are derived from blood or organs and have a limited life span. Immortalized cell lines, however, are usually derived from tumors and proliferate indefinitely due to mutations in the cell cycle controls.