What does cell culture involve in biotechnology?

Cell culture in biotechnology specifically refers to the process of growing cells under controlled conditions, typically outside their natural environment. This method allows scientists to study various cellular processes, such as growth, metabolism, and response to stimuli, in a controlled setting. Cell culture is fundamental in numerous biotechnological applications, including drug development, genetic research, and the production of vaccines.

By providing a controlled environment, researchers can manipulate factors such as temperature, pH, nutrient availability, and growth factors to observe how cells behave under different conditions. This is crucial for understanding how cells function and how they can be influenced for research or therapeutic purposes.

In contrast, growing plants in soil involves natural conditions, which do not represent the controlled scenarios typical of cell culture. Raising animals for product testing pertains more to physiological studies and experimental trials rather than the focus on isolated cell growth. Observing cellular behavior in natural habitats, while important for ecological studies, does not reflect the intentional manipulation and observation done in cell culture. Thus, growing cells in a controlled environment is essential for biotechnological research and applications.