What is the difference between primary cells and cell line?
Cell cultures may be derived from primary explants or dispersed cell suspensions. Because cell proliferation is often found in such cultures, a confluent monolayer or a dense cell suspension is formed. According to the traditional definition, the first harvesting and subculturing of this cell population is called primary cells [Freshney, R.I. (1987). Culture of Animal Cells. A Manual of Basic Technique. (New York, Alan R. Liss, Inc.)]. This type of cell has a finite lifespan, during which cells with the highest growth capacity will predominate, resulting in a degree of genotypic and phenotypic uniformity in the population. A cell line is a population of cells that grow and replicate continuously and has undergone a genetic transformation, resulting in indefinite growth potential. Cell lines have been maintained in vitro for medical and/or research purposes. In practice, continuous cell lines can be cultured through a very high number of subcultures and further genotypic/phenotypic chan
