dictionary help| anchorage dependence | medical dictionary |
<cell biology, cell culture> For some cells to grow in tissue culture, they are dependent on the contact and achorage to other cells, often as a monolayer. Contact is required for spreading and cell division.
A loss of contact or anchorage-dependence is associated with malignant cells, and abscence of anchorage-dependence can be detected by growing cells in soft agar or in suspension, as those cells that are anchorage-dependent will not grow.
(18 Nov 2007)
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