We purchase cells from organisation that have lots of cells frozen in storage. These companies have lots of different types of cells from different species. They even sell bacteria and chemicals and reagents that scientists need to grow the cells.
Just as an example, we often purchase myeloma cell lines (cell lines are cells from an organism which would normally not proliferate indefinitely but, due to mutation can keep undergoing division. The cells can therefore be grown for prolonged periods in the lab). Another research group in my department work on leukemia, and they purchase leukemic cells from these companies.
Sometimes cell lines can be developed within a lab. For example, my lab gets a lot of patient samples that will contain myeloma cells. Normally these cells will die within a few days, so we need to perform our experiments on them as soon as we can. However, under the right conditions and if they are given the right nutrients, some of the samples can become a cell line, as in, they will be able to survive and not die as they normally would.
One of the most common places where people can purchase cells is an organisation called the ATCC, here is their website if you want to check it out: https://www.atcc.org/
Hi ilikepie, thanks for your great question.
We purchase cells from organisation that have lots of cells frozen in storage. These companies have lots of different types of cells from different species. They even sell bacteria and chemicals and reagents that scientists need to grow the cells.
Just as an example, we often purchase myeloma cell lines (cell lines are cells from an organism which would normally not proliferate indefinitely but, due to mutation can keep undergoing division. The cells can therefore be grown for prolonged periods in the lab). Another research group in my department work on leukemia, and they purchase leukemic cells from these companies.
Sometimes cell lines can be developed within a lab. For example, my lab gets a lot of patient samples that will contain myeloma cells. Normally these cells will die within a few days, so we need to perform our experiments on them as soon as we can. However, under the right conditions and if they are given the right nutrients, some of the samples can become a cell line, as in, they will be able to survive and not die as they normally would.
One of the most common places where people can purchase cells is an organisation called the ATCC, here is their website if you want to check it out: https://www.atcc.org/
0