Which one of the following cell separation techniques allows cells from different stages of the cell cycle to be separated simultaneously with…
Which one of the following cell separation techniques allows cells from different stages of the cell cycle to be separated simultaneously with minimal perturbation to their physiology?
Select an option to attempt
Correct Answer: Option A
Explanation
Counterflow centrifugal elutriation for cell cycle synchronisation:Counterflow centrifugal elutriation (CCE) separates cells based primarily on SIZE and to a lesser extent on DENSITY:Principle:• Cells are pumped into a rotor chamber against centrifugal force.• By varying the flow rate (counterflow), cells of different sizes reach equilibrium at different positions in the chamber.• Eluting fractions at increasing flow rates separates cells by size.Advantages over other methods:• Continuous separation: can isolate multiple cell cycle stages simultaneously from one run.• Minimal perturbation: no drugs (unlike hydroxyurea or nocodazole blocks), no temperature shock — cells remain physiologically normal.• High yield and viability.Comparison with alternatives:• FACS: uses fluorescent markers; can separate by cell cycle stage but requires labelling.• SEC: not applicable for live cell separation in liquid suspension at scale.• Ultracentrifugation: separates by density; not appropriate for living cells without osmotic stress.Answer: Counterflow centrifugal elutriation separates cells by size without chemical perturbation, allowing simultaneous isolation of multiple cell cycle stages.