Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

tissue culture

 
Dictionary: tissue culture
Home > Library > Literature & Language > Dictionary

n.
  1. The technique or process of keeping tissue alive and growing in a culture medium.
  2. A culture of tissue grown by this technique or process.

Search unanswered questions...

Enter a question here...
Search: All sources Community Q&A Reference topics

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: tissue culture
Top
Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Britannica Concise Encyclopedia

Biological research method in which tissue fragments (a cell, a population of cells, or all or part of an organ) are sustained in an artificial environment for examination and manipulation of cell behaviour. It has been used to study normal and abnormal cell structure; biochemical, genetic, and reproductive activity; metabolism, functions, and aging and healing processes; and reactions to physical, chemical, and biological agents (e.g., drugs, viruses). A tiny sample of the tissue is spread on or in a culture medium of biological (e.g., blood serum or tissue extract), synthetic, or mixed origin having the appropriate nutrients, temperature, and pH for the cells being incubated. The results are observed with a microscope, sometimes after treatment (e.g., staining) to highlight particular features. Some viruses also grow in tissue cultures. Work with tissue cultures has helped identify infections, enzyme deficiencies, and chromosomal abnormalities; classify brain tumours; and formulate and test drugs and vaccines.

For more information on tissue culture, visit Britannica.com.

Sci-Tech Encyclopedia: Tissue culture
Top
Home > Library > Science > Sci-Tech Encyclopedia

The branch of biology in which tissues or cells of higher animals and plants are grown artificially in a controlled environment. Tissue culture is possible when cells are attached to a solid substrate, such as glass or cellophane, and if the necessary complex nutrient medium is provided. All cultures are now also grown in liquid suspension. Tissue cultures are used in the study of cell growth, multiplication, and differentiation, as well as in cancer research, hereditary mechanisms, radiation biology, all hybridization, and virus studies.

 
Columbia Encyclopedia: tissue culture
Top
Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Columbia Encyclopedia
tissue culture, the propagation of plants through the placement of small amounts of undifferentiated tissue or single cells in an artificial environment. The tissue is placed in a nutrient medium that favors the production of roots and shoots, and is later planted normally. By using tissue culture, the favorable qualities of plants can be precisely controlled, so that each plant is identical for the particular quality being sought, whether it be disease resistance or plant chemical production.

Gardener's Dictionary: tissue culture
Top
Home > Library > Home & Garden > Dictionary for Gardeners

A laboratory technique of propagating new plants from tiny portions of the parent plant.

Wikipedia: Tissue culture
Top
Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Vials containing tissue culture growth medium which provides nourishment to growing cells.

Tissue culture is the growth of tissues and/or cells separate from the organism. This is typically facilitated via use of a liquid, semi-solid, or solid growth medium, such as broth or agar. Tissue culture commonly refers to the culture of animal cells and tissues, while the more specific term plant tissue culture is used for plants.


Contents

Historical usage

In 1885 Wilhelm Roux removed a portion of the medullary plate of an embryonic chicken and maintained it in a warm saline solution for several days, establishing the basic principle of tissue culture.

In 1907 the zoologist Ross Granville Harrison demonstrated the growth of frog nerve cell processes in a medium of clotted lymph.

Modern usage

Main article: cell culture

In modern usage, "tissue culture" generally refers to the growth of eukaryotic cells in vitro. It is often used interchangeably with cell culture to specifically describe the in vitro culturing of sperm donor cells.

However, "tissue culture" can also be used to refer to the culturing of tissue pieces, i.e. explant culture or whole organs, i.e. organ culture.

It is a tool for the study of animal cell biology in vitro model of cell growth to allow a highly selective environment which is easily manipulated (used to optimize cell signaling pathways).

See also

External links

Stub icon This cell biology article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

in 1920 germen scientist Harbland is considered as the father of tissue culture


This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

 

Copyrights:

Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 2006 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Sci-Tech Encyclopedia. McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. Copyright © 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/.  Read more
Gardener's Dictionary. Taylor's Dictionary for Gardeners, by Frances Tenenbaum. Copyright © 1997 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Tissue culture".  Read more