What is the name of the human epithelial cell line maintained in tissue culture since 1951 and widely used in virology?

• A. HeLa cells
• B. HEK293
• C. Jurkat
• D. CHO cells

Answer: (D)

The question tests recognition of the long-standing, immortal human epithelial cell line central to virology. HeLa cells are derived from a cervical cancer patient in 1951 and were the first human cells kept alive and dividing indefinitely in culture. Their robust growth and epithelial characteristics made them a versatile tool for studying viruses, vaccine development, and many other virology experiments. In contrast, HEK293 cells come from human embryonic kidney tissue and were created later, Jurkat cells are a human T-cell line used for immunology studies, and CHO cells are from the Chinese hamster ovary. None of those are the human epithelial line established in 1951 and widely used in virology, so the correct name is HeLa cells.