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Cell-Based Assays

Meaning

Cell-Based Assays are sophisticated laboratory techniques that utilize living cells to measure the biological activity, potency, or toxicity of a substance, such as a hormone, peptide, or drug candidate. These assays provide a physiologically relevant environment for testing, allowing researchers to observe a compound’s effect on cellular signaling pathways, proliferation, or gene expression. They are essential tools in endocrinology and drug development for characterizing the functional consequences of ligand-receptor interactions. Unlike purely biochemical assays, cell-based systems reflect the complexity of a living system’s response.