Dilution cloning

Dilution cloning or cloning by limiting dilution describes a procedure to obtain a monoclonal cell population starting from a polyclonal mass of cells. This is achieved by setting up a series of increasing dilutions of the parent (polyclonal) cell culture. A suspension of the parent cells is made. Appropriate dilutions are then made, depending on cell number in the starting population, as well as the viability and characteristics of the cells being cloned. After the final dilutions are produced, aliquots of the suspension are plated or placed in wells and incubated. If all works correctly, a monoclonal cell colony will be produced. Applications for the procedure include cloning of parasites, T cells, transgenic cells, and macrophages.