Question

Although not required for cell growth, antibiotics are added in animal cell culture medium. Give reason. Name two such antibiotics.

Hint:

Antibiotics in cell culture media prevent microbial contamination; Penicillin and Streptomycin are commonly used.

Answer 1

Antibiotics are incorporated into animal cell culture media as a preventative measure against microbial contamination. Bacteria, fungi, or other microorganisms, if present, can proliferate and harm the cultured cells. Although animal cells do not inherently need antibiotics for growth, the presence of contaminants can render the entire culture unusable, thus positioning antibiotics as a critical safeguard. The following are two frequently employed antibiotics in animal cell culture:

• Penicillin: This antibiotic functions by impeding bacterial cell wall synthesis.
• Streptomycin: This antibiotic functions by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis.