Of significant concern are challenges like inter- and intra-specific cross-contamination, cell misidentification, genetic alterations, and the infiltration of microorganisms or chemicals. These issues, when unaddressed, can lead to inaccurate and non-reproducible research results, affecting a substantial portion of published scientific papers, as much as 16.1%. The International Cell Line Authentication Committee (ICLAC) cataloged 576 cases of misidentified or cross-contaminated cell lines as of its latest update in June 2021.
Raising awareness about these issues is critical, as biosafety and ethical considerations are often overlooked in the realm of cell line research. Some cell lines originate from genetically modified animals or undergo transformation through agents like the Simian virus 40 (SV40) large T-antigen (SV40T) or modern techniques like CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. Therefore, these cell lines fall under the category of genetically modified cell lines (GMCLs) and necessitate enhanced safety measures.
