A humster is a hybrid cell line made from a zona-free hamster oocyte fertilized with human sperm. [1] It always consists of single cells, and cannot form a multi-cellular being. Humsters are usually destroyed before they divide into two cells; if isolated and left alone to divide, they would still be unviable. [2]
Humsters are routinely created mainly for two reasons:
Somatic cell hybrids between humans and hamsters or mice have been used for the mapping of various traits since at least the 1970s. [3]
A humster is a hybrid cell line made from a zona-free hamster oocyte fertilized with human sperm. [1] It always consists of single cells, and cannot form a multi-cellular being. Humsters are usually destroyed before they divide into two cells; if isolated and left alone to divide, they would still be unviable. [2]
Humsters are routinely created mainly for two reasons:
Somatic cell hybrids between humans and hamsters or mice have been used for the mapping of various traits since at least the 1970s. [3]