Immortalised cell line

Immortalised cell line
Scanning electron micrograph of an apoptotic HeLa cell. Zeiss Merlin HR-SEM.
HeLa cells, an example of an immortalised cell line. DIC image, DNA stained with Hoechst 33258.
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

An immortalised cell line is a population of cells from a multicellular organism that would normally not proliferate indefinitely but, due to mutation, have evaded normal cellular senescence and instead can keep undergoing division. The cells can therefore be grown for prolonged periods in vitro. The mutations required for immortality can occur naturally or be intentionally induced for experimental purposes. Immortal cell lines are a very important tool for research into the biochemistry and cell biology of multicellular organisms. Immortalised cell lines have also found uses in biotechnology.

An immortalised cell line should not be confused with stem cells, which can also divide indefinitely, but form a normal part of the development of a multicellular organism.