Question

Advantages and disadvantages of monolayer culture

Answer 1

Culture preparations vary greatly in complexity, ranging from single isolated cells to three-dimensional histotypic cell structures. Besides cultures obtained directly from animal tissues (primary cultures), permanent cultures of continuously dividing (immortalized) cells have been established. This unit highlights both the advantages and disadvantages of a number in vitro approaches including primary cultures, continuous (permanent or immortal) cell lines, and contrasts culture techniques including suspension, attached (monolayer), and three-dimensional (aggregate) cultures in addition to explants.