Cell Sorting

CELL SORTING IS a procedure that separates a group of mixed cell types into fractions of a single cell type that can then be studied in isolation; cells can be sorted on the basis of a number of operator—specified characteristics. The most commonly used type of cell sorting is fluorescence—activated cell sorting, although other methods such as magnetic cell sorting, density gradient cell sorting, and so on are also often used—the first most commonly in human therapeutics. Fluorescence—activated cell sorting finds its application in stem cell research in the separation of adult stem cells.

The first prototype cell sorter was built in 1965 at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and was developed by Mack J. Fulwyler, who combined the Wallace and Joseph Coulter volume sensing system—a ...