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cell line
noun
: a cell culture selected for uniformity from a cell population derived from a usually homogeneous tissue source (such as an organ)
a newly established cell line derived from a human endometrial carcinoma—Biol. Abstracts
Examples of cell line in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
To study its function, the researchers altered the gene in stem cells, creating cell lines that either lacked the gene entirely or activated it at high levels.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 5 Jan. 2023
There, a sample of her cancer cells was removed and sent to the doctor George Gey, who was trying to find a cell line to use in cancer research, without Lacks’ knowledge or consent.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Aug. 2023
With the new infusion of capital, Afshar said the company will be able to accelerate the development of new types of cell lines the company can grow, which will enable it to meet the needs of more pharmaceutical company customers for use in drug development and other research.
—Alex Knapp, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
Those sales usually come from carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, and have several requirements, like being on an unlimited plan or opening a new cell line.
—Brenda Stolyar, WIRED, 26 Nov. 2023
Since 2016, the JCVI team has added back some nonessential genes to help the minimal cell lines grow and divide more like natural cells.
—Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 9 Aug. 2023
Much of our understanding of how the human genome is working was not done in human samples but in organisms like yeast, cancer cell lines, etc.
—Anika Nayak, STAT, 13 Oct. 2023
Then once the loss to gene pools has been identified, Colossal will use the sequences as targets to restore the gene diversity into cell lines that’ll be used to create embryos.
—Arcelia Martin, Dallas News, 19 Sep. 2023
Known as the HeLa line (using the first two letters of Lacks’ first and last name), Lacks’ cell line was used in the development of the polio vaccine, as well as innovations like gene mapping and in vitro fertilization and, more recently, in researching the Covid-19 vaccine.
—Andrea Marks, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cell line.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1940, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near cell line
Cite this Entry
“Cell line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cell%20line. Accessed 8 Jun. 2024.
Medical Definition
cell line
noun
: a cell culture selected for uniformity from a cell population derived from a usually homogeneous tissue source (as an organ)
a newly established cell line derived from human endometrial carcinoma—Biological Abstracts
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