What is the difference between viable cells and nonviable cells?
A. Viable cells are cells that are able to grow. Frozen viable cells are cells that have been cryopreserved with a cryoprotectant such as DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide). The cryoprotectant allows the cells to be frozen safely, ensuring that they can be later thawed and grown. Nonviable cells are cells without viability they are “dead”. The cells can not be grown.
A. Viable nucleated cells are cells that are “able to live”. Nonviable cells are incapable of further growth. Snap-frozen cells are not capable of further growth because the cell membrane is shattered by intracellular ice. However, when frozen at -1C per minute with a protectant such as dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), cells are “suspended in animation”. The cryoprotectant allows intracellular water to be removed slowly, ensuring that organelles are protected from ice formation. To preserve viability, cells are thawed rapidly at 37C and placed into growing media.
