where do you get the cells from? – Genes Zone March 2010

Question: where do you get the cells from?

Asked by josiejump to Kay on 15 Mar 2010 in Categories: Test methods.
- Kay Penicud answered on 15 Mar 2010:
  
  Most of the cells I work with originally came from tumours removed from surgery. With the patients permission, the surgeon can give the tumour to waiting scientists who can then grow the cells in the lab. We grow them in flasks in liquid. The liquid contains lots of nutrients and antibiotics to stop the cells getting infected. The cells copy themselves, so in theory they grow forever. I didn’t remove the tumours myself (I’m no surgeon!!) but I think the cells I work with came from a gut tumour about ten years ago, and are now used by hundreds of scientists all over the world.

josiejump commented on 18 Mar 2010:

That sounds …………………. interesting. I’m glad you didn’t remove the tumours yourself!

Question: where do you get the cells from?