The origin of cells in the laboratory — what it means in practice
- Kalliatma
- May 3
- 2 min read
Continuing the reflection on the origin of cosmetics, I would like to focus more specifically on the origin of the cells used in laboratory processes.
Perhaps the answer begins from the same place:
nothing is created from nothing.
Where it begins
The cells used in biotechnology are not created from scratch in the laboratory.
They have an original source.
They may originate from:
human tissues
animal organisms
or plants
and are then cultivated and multiplied in controlled environments, forming what are known as “cell lines”.
What this means in practice
Over time, the original cells are no longer present in the way we might imagine.
And yet:
their origin remains.
Even when the final product:
does not contain the original cells
or has been transformed into something else
its initial source does not disappear.
Looking more closely at origin
At this point, it may be worth pausing and looking more clearly at this initial origin.
Within scientific research and biotechnology, human cells used to create cell lines may originate from different types of tissues — such as skin, blood, or adipose tissue, as well as neonatal tissues like the umbilical cord or placenta. In some cases, cell lines have also been derived from fetal tissue or from cells with a high capacity for proliferation, such as fibroblasts.
These cells are cultivated in laboratory conditions and used to produce biological factors — such as growth factors or exosomes — which may then be applied in various fields, including cosmetic formulations.
The final product does not contain these cells.
And yet:
their origin remains part of the process.
Whether and how this origin relates to a specific product is not always clear — and is not always communicated in a way that is easy to understand.
Why this matters to some
For many people, this may not be a concern.
For others, however, it touches something more internal.
Particularly when this original source involves human tissues.
Perhaps because there is a need to understand — to stay close to what is true, to have the information necessary to make a conscious choice.
Truth, in its deeper sense.The greek word itself carries this meaning: a-letheia — that which does not fall into forgetfulness, that which cannot be hidden.
The origin of cosmetic ingredients — and, by extension, of the products we use — is not merely a detail.
It is something essential, something that should not be obscured or lost behind “trendy” or appealing terms such as “stem cells” or “exosomes”, often repeated without clarity as to what they truly refer to.
Not necessarily as a matter of ideology.
But as a sense of boundaries —a personal, often quiet understanding of what feels acceptable.
conscious care
For those who would like to read further
(indicative references)
Alberts, B. et al. — Molecular Biology of the Cell
Freshney, R.I. — Culture of Animal Cells
Studies indicate that exosomes and growth factors can be derived from various cell types (such as mesenchymal cells, fibroblasts, and adipose tissue) and are used in regenerative applications
(e.g. article in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology)
Research data also suggest that such derivatives may originate from umbilical cord cells or other cellular sources
(e.g. review in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal)
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