Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How many generations do cells in primary cultures usually divide before their growth slows?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
tissue culture
Tissue culture often requires sterile working conditions and thus is typically performed in a laminar flow cabinet (or tissue culture hood), which circulates filtered air to reduce the risk of culture contamination.
In tissue culture, normal cells in primary cultures are mortal and typically multiply for 50 to 100 generations before their growth rate decreases markedly. This point, at which cells undergo replicative senescence and stop growing, is known as the Hayflick limit. While these cells can be transferred or "split" several dozen times during their period of healthy growth, they eventually enter a senescent phase and die out.12