First Things First: Primary Cells in Research

Download this eBook from The Scientist and the Lonza Group to learn about the differences between primary cells and cell lines, how to optimize your primary-cell workflow and culture conditions, and creating more physiologically relevant models with 3-D cell culture.

Written byThe Scientist Creative Services Team
| 1 min read

Register for free to listen to this article
Listen with Speechify
0:00
1:00
Share

Primary cells are collected directly from living tissues, and as such, more closely resemble in vivo cells from a genetic and physiological perspective. This feature makes primary cells a treasure trove of potential for investigating in vivo mechanisms, responses, and pathologies. To use primary cells effectively, researchers have to contend with challenges not present when using immortalized cell lines. How do I extract only the cells I want? How long do primary cells live? How can I avoid phenotype drift? Do my cells need a certain spatial alignment?

Download this eBook from The Scientist to learn about:
• The physiological differences between primary cells and cell lines
• How to optimize your primary-cell workflow
• Understanding and optimizing primary cell-culture conditions
• Creating more physiologically relevant models with 3-D cell culture

This free eBook was made possible by an educational grant from the Lonza Group.

Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of

The Scientist Logo
Receive full access to more than 35 years of archives, as well as TS Digest, digital editions of The Scientist, feature stories, and much more!
Already a member? Login Here
Share
Illustration of a developing fetus surrounded by a clear fluid with a subtle yellow tinge, representing amniotic fluid.
January 2026

What Is the Amniotic Fluid Composed of?

The liquid world of fetal development provides a rich source of nutrition and protection tailored to meet the needs of the growing fetus.

View this Issue
Human-Relevant In Vitro Models Enable Predictive Drug Discovery

Advancing Drug Discovery with Complex Human In Vitro Models

Stemcell Technologies
Redefining Immunology Through Advanced Technologies

Redefining Immunology Through Advanced Technologies

Ensuring Regulatory Compliance in AAV Manufacturing with Analytical Ultracentrifugation

Ensuring Regulatory Compliance in AAV Manufacturing with Analytical Ultracentrifugation

Beckman Coulter Logo
Skip the Wait for Protein Stability Data with Aunty

Skip the Wait for Protein Stability Data with Aunty

Unchained Labs

Products

Sino Biological Logo

Sino Biological's Launch of SwiftFluo® TR-FRET Kits Pioneers a New Era in High-Throughout Kinase Inhibitor Screening

SPT Labtech Logo

SPT Labtech enables automated Twist Bioscience NGS library preparation workflows on SPT's firefly platform

nuclera logo

Nuclera eProtein Discovery System installed at leading Universities in Taiwan

Brandtech Logo

BRANDTECH Scientific Introduces the Transferpette® pro Micropipette: A New Twist on Comfort and Control