Cell ablation

Cell ablation (also known as tissue ablation) is a biotechnological tool for studying cell lineage. The process consists of selectively destroying cells in an organism.

For example, a laser beam or controllable gene promoter for a toxin gene can be used to destroy a selected amount of cells.[1]

Cell ablation can also be used as a tool to produce transgenic organisms lacking a cell type, and as a cure for certain disorders such as cancer and leukemia.

The term is not to be confused with genetic ablation: a method of modifying DNA in order to disrupt the production of a specific gene.

References

Michiko, Saito; et al. (1 August 2001). "Diphtheria toxin receptor mediated conditional and targeted cell ablation in transgenic mice". Nature Biotechnology. 19 (8): 746–750. doi:10.1038/90795. PMID 11479567.

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[1] Michiko, Saito; et al. (1 August 2001). "Diphtheria toxin receptor mediated conditional and targeted cell ablation in transgenic mice". Nature Biotechnology. 19 (8): 746–750. doi:10.1038/90795. PMID 11479567.