Cell Biology & Tissue Culture: Biology of Cultured Cells and HeLa

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers key concepts in mammalian cell culture morphology, growth modes, specific cell line characteristics, and the historical and biological significance of the HeLa cell line.

Morphology

A branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features, such as cell shape and appearance.

Phase contrast microscope

A type of light microscopy that enhances contrasts of transparent and colourless objects by influencing the optical path of light.

Suspension culture

A cell growth mode consisting of single cells or small free-floating clumps, typically reflecting origins in blood tissues such as leukemia or lymphoma.

Adherent culture

A growth mode where cells form a monolayer attached to a tissue culture flask, typically derived from solid tissues like lungs or kidneys.

Confluence

A measure of the number of cells attached to a substrate, referring to the coverage of the dish or flask by the cells.

Confluent monolayer

The state when the substrate of the culture vessel is completely covered with cultured cells and there is no room for cells to grow as a single layer.

Fibroblasts

The principal active cells of connective tissue that are irregularly shaped and adherent, known for producing extracellular matrix proteins like collagen.

Epithelial cells

Cells that line the inner surface of the body, appearing flattened and many-sided in culture, and growing in sheets or patches.

Endothelial cells

Cells that line the interior surface of blood vessels (tunica intima) and typically grow in a 'cobblestone' monolayer pattern at stationary density.

HUV-EC-C [HUVEC]

An endothelial cell line isolated from the vein of the human umbilical cord used in cardiovascular disease research.

Neuronal cells

Cells responsible for sending and receiving neurotransmitters; they are challenging to culture because mature neurons do not undergo cell division.

Lymphoblast cells

Cells of hematopoietic origin that are spherical in shape, grow in suspension, and do not attach to a substrate.

Passage number

The numerical value indicating the number of times a cell line has been sub-cultured, passaged, or split.

HeLa

The first immortalized human cell line, established in 1951 from cervical cancer cells taken from Henrietta Lacks.

Hayflick Limit

The limited number of cell divisions that most normal cells can undergo before becoming senescent.

Telomerase

An enzyme present in its active version during HeLa cell division that prevents the shortening of telomeres, allowing cells to circumvent the Hayflick Limit.

Hypertriploid

The estimated chromosome count for the HeLa genome, consisting of 76 to 80 total chromosomes ($3n+$) instead of the normal 46.