Patent ID: 6338942
Filing Date: 2002-01-15
Classification: C07K,C12N

Abstract:
A method of selective expansion of a target population of cells, said method comprising:(a) introducing a starting sample of cells, containing cells of the target population or a progenitor to the target population, into a growth medium; (b) causing cells of the target cell population to divide, the cell division resulting in a relative increase in the number of the target cells; and (c) concurrently with, intermittently during or following step (b), contacting the cells with a selection element, comprising a plurality of selective binding molecules with specific affinity either for target cells or for a first population of non-target cells, so as to select cells of the target population; and (d) following selection step (c), causing cells of the target population to divide; wherein during the division of step (d), there is at least a one day period during which the cell division of step (d) results in a relative increase in tile number of target cells that is at least as great as the relative increase during the division of step (b).