White blood cells called B cells produce proteins that can be used for the treatment of certain illnesses. However, these B cells do not live for very long on their own. To keep the B cells growing for a long time in laboratories, scientists fuse the B cells with cancer cells (fused B-cancer cells) that do grow for a very long time. The particular cancer cells used for the fusion are treated with chemicals that make them unable to produce the nitrogenous bases adenine and guanine, but the B cells with which they are fused do produce these nitrogenous bases. The scientists grow the large fused B-cancer cells in a growth medium that contains necessary nutrients for the cells and includes a source of carbon.

(a) Describe the role of carbon in biological systems.

Without carbon, there would be no life on earth. Carbon molecules have the ability to form bonds that are stable with a vast number of molecules. It can also form bonds with itself. The proteins, amino acids, DNA, RNA, lipids all contain carbon molecules. Hence, it serves as the basic compound for making molecules of life.

In the growth culture media, Carbon is added in the form of carbohydrates like glucose or glutamine as it provides main source of energy.

niharikadhawanarora niharikadhawanarora · Answer 2 · 2021-10-22T17:33:15+02:00

Carbon is a necessary component of all life on Earth. Carbon intake and outflow are a part of every plant and animal life, whether they take in carbon to help build food or release carbon as part of respiration. Carbon is always moving from one location to another.

In biological processes, carbon is the most fundamental component used to create molecules.
Carbon sources are introduced to the growing medium to give energy.
There would be no life on Earth if it weren't for carbon. Carbon molecules have the ability to create stable connections with a large variety of other compounds. It's also capable of forming bonds with itself. Carbon molecules can be found in proteins, amino acids, DNA, RNA, and lipids.

Thus, it acts as the building block for life's molecules. Carbon is given to the growth culture media in the form of carbohydrates such as glucose or glutamine because it is the primary source of energy and plays a major role in the biological system.