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[Epigeneticist]

1. How do murine cells undergo spontaneous immortalization in cell culture? Loss of p53 during many passages?

2. Why can murine cells but not human cells undergo spontaneous? Is telomerase expression different between the two? I read murine cells have longer telomeres and telomerase is expressed in most cell types.

Any explanations? Working with mouse cells and wondering about the molecular mechanism.

Thanks!

[bob1]

Typically 3 events take place - loss of p53, mutation of RB or pathway, and upregulation of telomerase.

Both human and mouse can undergo spontaneous mutation, its just that it is a very very rare event.