What is the 293 cell line?
293 [HEK-293] is a cell line exhibiting epithelial morphology that was isolated from the kidney of a human embryo. This cell line can be used in industrial biotechnology and toxicology research. It has applications in efficacy testing and viruscide testing.
Are 293 cells human?
What Is HEK293? HEK293 are immortalized human embryonic kidney cells. Originally isolated in the 1970s by Alex Van der Eb, a Dutch biologist, it was postdoc Frank Graham who transformed the cell line with sheared adenovirus 5 (Ad5). The ‘293’ refers to the fact that it was Graham’s 293rd experiment.
What has HEK293 cells been used for?
HEK 293 cells have been widely used in cell biology research for many years, because of their reliable growth and propensity for transfection. They are also used by the biotechnology industry to produce therapeutic proteins and viruses for gene therapy as well as safety testing for a vast array of chemicals.
Where are HEK 293 cells used?
What is human embryonic kidney HEK293?
Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK) 293 is a cell line commonly used for BioPharma and Basic Medical research and therapeutic solutions. Generated in 1973, they are derived from human embryonic kidney cells and are popular, in part because of their reliable growth in culture and for their propensity for transfection.
Why are HEK 293 cells used for gene therapy?
Laying the Foundations of Gene Therapy Graham’s HEK293 cells offer a key advantage for this particular research – the transformation of these cells via adenoviral DNA means that they may support the growth of adenoviruses which have been modified so that they no longer self-replicate.
How are HEK 293 cells harvested?
HEK 293 cells were generated in 1973 by transfection of cultures of normal human embryonic kidney cells with sheared adenovirus 5 DNA in Alex van der Eb’s laboratory in Leiden, the Netherlands. The cells were obtained from a single, aborted or miscarried fetus, the precise origin of which is unclear.