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What is the difference between a cell line and a cell strain?
Posted December 16, 2020
Answer
The following table outlines the major differences between a primary and secondary cell culture:
| Cell Line | Cell Strain |
| A cell line is a subculture obtained from a primary culture | A cell strain is a subpopulation of a cell line |
| It is developed from a single cell and consists of cells with a uniform genetic make-up | It has been positively selected from the culture by cloning or some other method and possesses a specific feature (e.g. chromosome, antigen, etc.) |
| Aneuploid population of cells | Euploid population of cells |
| Can have a finite lifespan or an indefinite lifespan | Has a finite lifespan |
| Can grow through serial passaging | Incapable of growing through serial passaging |
Additional resources
Establishment and characterization of cell lines from chromosomal instable colorectal cancer