Much of biomedical research—medicine, genetics, drug discovery, vaccine development, reconstructive medicine, basic science, HIV testing/treatment, and
cell biology—is done with cultured cells obtained from major repositories or fellow researchers. An estimated 15–20% of the time, cells used in experiments
have been misidentified or cross-contaminated with another cell line. Although major repositories now authenticate cell line identity, many are
calling for all researchers to test and authenticate cell line identity using standard genotyping techniques like STR analysis.
Cell Notes 22, 15–17.
Jill Harley Dunham1 and Pam Guthmiller2