| Fetal bovine serum (FBS) is a commonly used supplement in cell culture to support in vitro and ex vivo cultures of cells, tissues, and organs. It remains popular because it plays essential roles in providing nutrients, growth factors, and attachment factors to cells. FBS also protects cells from oxidative damage and apoptosis in ways that are difficult to replicate with serum-free media (SFM). It contains many undefined factors that promote cell growth and enhance survival. Derived from clotted blood, FBS is the most widely used supplement in mammalian cell culture, particularly with traditional media formulations developed in the 1950s and 1960s like MEM, DMEM, IMDM, M199, and RPMI-1640. |
