Question

A key difference in animal cell culture media is the requirement for

• A. High salt concentration
• B. Only glucose
• C. Growth factors and hormones
• D. No vitamins

Hint:

Remember: \[ \boxed{\text{Animal Cell Culture Media} = \text{Nutrients} + \text{Growth Factors} + \text{Hormones}} \] Growth factors are one of the major differences between microbial and animal cell culture media.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Concept: Animal cells are highly specialized and cannot synthesize many essential molecules required for growth. Therefore, animal cell culture media must contain growth factors, hormones, vitamins, amino acids, glucose, salts, and other nutrients to support cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation.

Step 1: Composition of animal cell culture media.
A typical medium contains:
• Amino acids
• Vitamins
• Glucose
• Mineral salts
• Growth factors
• Hormones
• Serum (in many media) Growth factors stimulate cell division, while hormones regulate cellular metabolism.

Step 2: Importance of growth factors and hormones.
These components:
• Promote cell proliferation.
• Maintain cell viability.
• Regulate differentiation.
• Enhance protein synthesis. Without them, many animal cells fail to grow in culture.

Step 3: Eliminate incorrect options.

• High salt concentration damages animal cells.
• Glucose alone is insufficient.
• Vitamins are essential and cannot be omitted.
• Growth factors and hormones are characteristic requirements of animal cell culture. Final Answer: \[ \boxed{Option (C) is correct \]