Immortalised cell line

An immortalised cell line is a population of <a href="/facts/Cell_(biology)/bLM9UQvy">cells</a> from a <a href="/facts/Multicellular_organism/rk8QBF7o">multicellular organism</a> that would normally not proliferate indefinitely but, due to <a href="/facts/Mutation/Ee4NnWbY">mutation</a>, have evaded normal <a href="/facts/Cellular_senescence/w6f0gfrB">cellular senescence</a> and instead can keep undergoing division. The cells can therefore be grown for prolonged periods <a href="/facts/In_vitro/evp3hAX6">in vitro</a>. The mutations required for immortality can occur naturally or be intentionally induced for experimental purposes. Immortal cell lines are a very important tool for research into the <a href="/facts/Biochemistry/fa2pWEBp">biochemistry</a> and <a href="/facts/Cell_biology/kdIBGHub">cell biology</a> of multicellular organisms. Immortalised cell lines have also found uses in <a href="/facts/Biotechnology/8eFnI6FB">biotechnology</a>.
An immortalised cell line should not be confused with <a href="/facts/Stem_cell/qgB9dFrI">stem cells</a>, which can also divide indefinitely, but form a normal part of the development of a multicellular organism.

Immortalised cell line open-in-new

Immortalised cell line