Final answer:
The primary limitation of growing cells in culture involves the need for a solid support and contact inhibition, while benefits include the production of bioproducts and drug testing. Only certain cells can be cultured in vitro, and cell growth is often finite.
Step-by-step explanation:
There are several limitations to growing cells in culture. One major limitation is that human or animal cells require a solid support to grow, such as plastic, glass, or other materials, which allows for microscopic observation. Additionally, cells in primary cell culture experience contact inhibition, where cells stop dividing when they touch other cells or the walls of the container. This can be managed via micro-carriers, but growth eventually ceases after about 50 divisions due to senescence or inadequate culture media. Furthermore, only a limited selection of cells, such as tumour cells or endocrine cells, can grow in vitro, and over time, some cells die and release toxic substances that can affect the surviving cells.
The pros of growing cells in tissue culture include the ability to study viral infections, manufacture vaccines and other bioproducts, test drug potency, and to study cellular metabolism. Growing cells in culture also facilitates the creation of immortal cell lines for industrial or research purposes, overcoming the limitations of primary cultures and allowing for exponential growth. Understanding the limitations and benefits of cell culture is crucial for the development of cell lines and for conducting research in the fields of biology and medicine.