Final answer:
Tissue culture is integral for studying viral infections, producing pharmaceuticals, and testing drug potency. Cell culture techniques require solid surfaces for growth, and primary cell cultures must be periodically diluted due to contact inhibition. Micropropagation facilitates the propagation of plants under sterile conditions, and the appropriate use of antibiotics is crucial for successful cell culture without antibiotic-resistant contaminations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Importance of Cell and Tissue Culture
The use of tissue culture is pivotal in various scientific and industrial applications. Cultured cells serve as substitute hosts for studying viral infections. Moreover, they are used in the production of medical and pharmaceutical products such as vaccines, antibodies, hormones, enzymes, vitamins, and steroids. These cells provide a tool for drug potency testing and serve as models for studying metabolism.
Cell and Tissue Culture Techniques
For effective cell growth in vitro, cells require attachment to solid surfaces such as glass or plastic, and manipulations are performed in a laminar flow hood to prevent contamination. Primary cell culture is where cells grow and divide until contact inhibition occurs. To continue growth, cells are transferred to fresh medium. Continuous cell lines, such as HeLa cells, can grow indefinitely and have been crucial for advances in cell biology, virology, and medicine.
Micropropagation and Its Benefits
Micropropagation is used for the rapid propagation of plants in sterile conditions. This technique is essential for growing rare, endangered, economically important, or disease-free plants.
The Role of Antibiotics in Tissue Culture
The introduction of antibiotics has been a breakthrough for long-term cell line propagation, combating microbial contamination in tissue culture. However, the misuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens, necessitating continuous development of new drugs.
Addressing Challenges in Tissue Culture
To maintain healthy cell cultures, it is necessary to periodically dilute primary cell cultures and to develop immortal cell lines, which can sustain long-term growth.