Note
The discovery that dissociated sponge cells will reaggregate to form a functional organism was the basis for the establishment of sponge cell cultures that have been used as a model for the study of fundamental processes in developmental biology and immunology. More recent is the discovery of unique bioactive compounds in marine sponges, and the feasibility of in vitro production of these chemicals is being evaluated. Techniques are well established for cell dissociation; development of several nutrient media formulations has resulted in improvements in viability and cell division; and molecular approaches to identification of genes responsible for regulation of cell cycling may provide unique perspectives in culture optimization.