What are the differences between finite and continuous cell lines?

Question

Accepted Answer

Basis of differentiation

Finite cell lines

Continuous cell lines

Definition

Finite cell lines are cell lines which have a limited number of divisions

Continuous cell lines are cell lines which have the ability to divide indefinitely

Growth rate

Slow

Rapid

Anchorage dependence

Yes

No

Nutrient requirement

Requires a high number of nutrients

Requires a low number of nutrients

Cloning efficiency

Have a low cloning efficiency

Have a high cloning efficiency

Ploidy

Euploid or diploid

Aneuploid or heteroploid

Method of growth

Are grown in monolayer cultures

Are grown in monolayer and suspension cultures

Serial passaging

Do not have serial passaging

Is regulated by infinite serial passages

Markers

Have tissue-specific markers

Have antigenic, enzymatic, and chromosomal markers

Parent cell function

These cell lines keep the functions of parent cells

These cell lines do not keep functions of parent cells

Yield

Produce low yields

Produce high yields

Basis of differentiation	Finite cell lines	Continuous cell lines
Definition	Finite cell lines are cell lines which have a limited number of divisions	Continuous cell lines are cell lines which have the ability to divide indefinitely
Growth rate	Slow	Rapid
Anchorage dependence	Yes	No
Nutrient requirement	Requires a high number of nutrients	Requires a low number of nutrients
Cloning efficiency	Have a low cloning efficiency	Have a high cloning efficiency
Ploidy	Euploid or diploid	Aneuploid or heteroploid
Method of growth	Are grown in monolayer cultures	Are grown in monolayer and suspension cultures
Serial passaging	Do not have serial passaging	Is regulated by infinite serial passages
Markers	Have tissue-specific markers	Have antigenic, enzymatic, and chromosomal markers
Parent cell function	These cell lines keep the functions of parent cells	These cell lines do not keep functions of parent cells
Yield	Produce low yields	Produce high yields