Dilution cloning

Dilution cloning describes the process of obtaining 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. The number of dilutions will depend on cell number in the starting population, as well as the characteristics of the cell type in question. After the final dilution has been produced, small batches of the suspension is placed in wells and permitted to grow, ideally forming a monoclonal cell colony.