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Genetics & Biotechnology vocabulary · PCR and Laboratory Methods

Cell line

Meaning in genetics & biotechnology, with examples

nounCore term

In genetics & biotechnology, cell line means: A population of cells that can keep dividing in culture for a long time, often indefinitely, and is used as a standard model in the lab.

In Turkish: hücre hattı, hücre dizisi

How it is used

Used daily in cell biology and biotech. Well-known lines include HeLa, HEK293 and CHO cells. Researchers culture, passage, freeze and authenticate cell lines and test them for mycoplasma. A line made from a patient's tumor is called 'patient-derived'.

Example sentences

  1. We tested the drug on three breast cancer cell lines.

  2. Please test the new cell line for mycoplasma before you use it.

Common collocations

  • human cell line
  • stable cell line
  • cancer cell line
  • cell line authentication
  • establish a cell line
  • transfectionPutting DNA or RNA into animal or human cells in culture, usually with chemical reagents or an electric pulse, so that the cells express it or are changed by it.
  • knockoutA cell or organism in which a specific gene has been made inactive on purpose, so that researchers can study what happens without it.
  • stem cellA cell that can divide to make more copies of itself and can also develop into specialized cell types, such as nerve, muscle or blood cells.
  • bioreactorA vessel in which cells or microorganisms are grown under carefully controlled conditions, such as temperature, pH, oxygen and mixing, to make a product.

More terms: PCR and Laboratory Methods

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