Cell culture is a technique used in biological, medical, and pharmaceutical research that involves growing cells outside of their normal environment, typically in a lab. These cells can come from a variety of sources, such as tissues from humans, animals, plants, or microorganisms.
There are several types of cell cultures, including:
- Primary cell cultures: These are established from cells, tissues, or organs taken directly from organisms. Once removed, the tissue is treated with enzymes to break it down into individual cells which are then grown in a culture dish.
- Cell lines: These are cells that have been adapted to culture and can be propagated indefinitely. They can be either “immortal” (meaning they won’t die unless killed) or “finite” (meaning they will eventually stop dividing and die). Immortal cell lines are often derived from cancer cells and are very useful for research because of their ability to divide indefinitely.
- Stem cell cultures: These involve growing stem cells, which have the ability to differentiate into a variety of cell types. This includes embryonic stem cells (which can become any cell type in the body) and adult stem cells (which can become a limited number of cell types).
- Organoids and 3D cultures: These are more complex structures that involve growing cells in three dimensions to mimic the organization and functionality of organs. These are becoming increasingly popular in research as they more closely resemble the in vivo situation.
In cell culture, cells are grown in a controlled environment, typically in a plastic dish and bathed in a sterile, nutrient-rich liquid called culture medium. The culture conditions, such as temperature, humidity, and gas mixture, are typically controlled to mimic the conditions inside the body.
Cell cultures are used for a variety of research purposes, including studying cellular function and biology, understanding disease mechanisms, drug discovery and testing, vaccine production, and regenerative medicine.
