Primary cells, which are isolated directly from tissue, show normal cell morphology and maintain many of the important markers and functions seen in vivo. Primary cells, though, have a finite lifespan and limited expansion capacity, so it is critical to use low passage primary cells for your research.
For decades, researchers have been culturing cells to study normal and diseased biological processes. Many of these studies use immortalized cell lines which proliferate indefinitely in culture. Immortalized cells thrive in classical media formulated with the minimum requirements for cell growth, including
