THE ESTABLISHMENT AND CHROMOSOME ANALYSIS OF A NEW CELL LINE OF CHINESE HAMSTER FROM SPONTANEOUS TRANSFORMATION IN VITRO

A male Chinese hamster cell line has been established through spontaneous transformation in a skin culture. Chromosome studies at passage 13 revealed one major and one minor type of pseudodiploid cells (77.3 and 20%). At passage 42, only the major subline persisted (78%). The two sublines, especially the major one, had selective advantage over other cell types in this cell line probably because they were more nearly genetically balanced. Autoradiographic studies indicated no overall increase in late replicating chromosomal elements in the two sublines. Both cell types lacked the X chromosome and chromosome 6, but they were largely compensated for by the presence of new marker chromosomes. However, more chromosomal material was missing in the minor type than in the major type, and this may account for the lower adaptability of the former.