How can a cell survive and function independent of the body?

Answer 1

i'm not exactly clear how you mean the question, i'm assuming you mean a human cell surviving independant of the body.

possible, i woked with HEK293 for a little while in culture, all you have to do is provide media (DMEM) and serum (fbs) and they will grow happily, doubing about once a day.
these are immortalised cell lines though, in the human body they would be deadly as they grow independant of growth stimulation signals, they could be described as cancer.

primary cell lines, eg mouth swab epithelial cells can survive independantly in culture but suffer from the hayflick phenomenon, that is they arrest after several division cycles and will not divide any more.

charlie

Answer 2

According to the cell theory, the cell is the basic unit of structure and function of all living things. As long as it is able to carry on all the life activities (Metabolism:nutrition, respiration, excretion, growth,etc.) it will survive and thrive. As long as it maintains these requirements it will remain viable whether or not it is surrounded by other cells. This is the case whether it be in a living organism, in a laboratory setting , or by itself as a single-celled protista.

Answer 3

One of the first forms of life that formed on earth was the single celled organism. In terms of biology, it's actually easier for a single cell to form/survive than multicellular organisms. Any organism requires a source of sustenance (i.e. food) and fluid/water. With a single cell, these resources are able to permeate through the membrane of the cell straight into the cell and be processed. In a multicellular organism the surface area of an organism isn't sufficent to absorb enough nutrients needed. As such these organism have evolved to injest these needed nutrients and distribute it to the body, usually through the blood stream.

Answer 4

the cell need some factors called Rescue Factor to avoid apoptosis (programed Cell Death).when cells are isolated this factor will not have effect on cell results Cell Death.to avoid this problem we need mediums that contain Growth&Rescue factor(eg:Serum) which contain PDGF(Platelet Derived Growth Factor).because cells after 40 generation stall and do not replicate we need immortal Cell Line this Cells can be isolated from Cancer Tumors just like HeLa cell Line.for more info search "telomerase effect on cell immortality"