Low Cost, Reliable, High Efficiency, Functional Cell

A renewable source of DNA from patients and family members is needed to evaluate the genetic componmany diseases including IDDM and NIDDM. In the past cells have been transformed in order to immortalprovide a continual source of DNA. This procedure is time consuming, expensive and difficult -- thularge populations impractical. In addition, transformation converts normal cells to genetically altdevelop new methods to allow normal cells to be grown in a renewable fashion. This will provide a fusupply of normal DNA more representative of the starting population of cells. The methods will be einexpensive. They utilize the addition of novel small organic molecules to standard culture media.molecules have already been demonstrated to allow very large numbers of population doublings. Althoueventually occur, it takes so long that there is virtually an inexhaustable number of cells. In ordbest molecule, Phase I will compare the ability of several unique molecules to increase the populatifibroblasts and lymphocytes undergo in vitro.