Introduction to Cell Culture

Cell culture refers to the removal of cells from an animal or plant and their subsequent growth in a favorable artificial environment.  The cells may be removed from the tissue directly and disaggregated by enzymatic or mechanical means before cultivation, or they may be derived from a cell line or cell strain that has already been established.

Normal cells usually divide only a limited number of times before losing their ability to proliferate, which is a genetically determined event known as senescence; these cell lines are known as finite. However, some cell lines become immortal through a process called transformation, which can occur spontaneously or can be chemically or virally induced.  When a finite cell line undergoes transformation and acquires the ability to divide indefinitely, it becomes a continuous cell line.

Culture conditions vary widely for each cell type, but the artificial environment in which the cells are cultured invariably consists of a suitable vessel containing the following:

• A substrate or medium that supplies the essential nutrients (amino acids, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals)
• Growth factors
• Hormones
• Gases (O₂, CO₂)
• A regulated physico-chemical environment (pH, osmotic pressure, temperature)

Most cells are anchorage-dependent and must be cultured while attached to a solid or semi-solid substrate (adherent or monolayer culture), while others can be grown floating in the culture medium (suspension culture).

If a surplus of cells are available from subculturing, they should be treated with the appropriate protective agent (e.g., DMSO or glycerol) and stored at temperatures below –130°C (cryopreservation) until they are needed.  For more information on subculturing and cryopreserving cells, refer to the Guidelines for Maintaining Cultured Cells.

Cells in culture can be divided into three basic categories based on their shape and appearance (i.e., morphology).

Cell culture is one of the major tools used in cellular and molecular biology, providing excellent model systems for studying the normal physiology and biochemistry of cells (e.g., metabolic studies, aging), the effects of drugs and toxic compounds on the cells, and mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. It is also used in drug screening and development, and large scale manufacturing of biological compounds (e.g., vaccines, therapeutic proteins). The major advantage of using cell culture for any of these applications is the consistency and reproducibility of results that can be obtained from using a batch of clonal cells.

Related Cell Culture Basics Videos

Video 1:  Introduction to cell culture   This video provides an overview of the basic equipment used in cell culture and proper laboratory set-up.  Guidance on how to work safely and aseptically in a cell culture hood is introduced and demonstrated.

Video 2:  Sterile technique   This video is focused on the steps you should take to prevent contamination of your cell culture.  All of the basic actions required to perform cell culture using best practice sterile techniques are demonstrated.