mutation rate in eukaryotic cultured cells

[Wolfgang Schechinger]

Dear all, 

I have some 3t3 cells that are stable expressing a 2kbp cDNA (prepared by 
retroviral infection, the cell line was started from a single cell). They 
divide and grow happily and are split 1 : 50 every 2 or 3 days.

The gene in question is very likely not affecting survival (i.e. does not 
exert positive or negative selection pressure if mutations therein occure).

When I culture these cells for a long time, how high is the likeliness to get 
mutations in this gene? Is there any data available on the mutation rate one 
could assume? How heterogenuous could a population become (in respect to that 
gene) when the cells are kept in culture for say half year or longer?

All input is welcome.

Regards, 
Wo
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Dr. Wolfgang Schechinger
Institute of Biomedical Sciences
Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan

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