Invitrogen cell line ‘prevents sacrifice of cells’

Invitrogen has developed a stem cell line which allows pluripotency to be observed without the sacrifice of the cells, the company claims.

According to the manufacturer, previous methods of determining whether stem cells may operate in more than one way have resulted in the death of the cell.

But the firm asserts that it has discovered a method by which the observation may be made without the cell being sacrificed.

Joydeep Goswami, vice-president of stem cells and regenerative medicine at Invitrogen, explained: "It is crucial for stem cell researchers to know if the cells they are working with are still pluripotent, or if they have already begun to differentiate.

"With this line, they can quickly make that determination and simultaneously monitor whether their media composition is optimal for keeping the cells undifferentiated."

Invitrogen states that it offers a portfolio of some 1,200 solutions for all aspects of stem cell research for both embryonic and adult cell populations.