First Things First: Primary Cells in Research

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.