Definition
Physically separating cells from tissue; emphasized as gentle and reproducible in TIGR positioning.
Why it matters
For scientific teams:
- Preserves enzyme-sensitive epitopes and receptors.
- Reduces transcriptional artifacts caused by prolonged digestion.
- Improves consistency across samples.
For decision-makers:
- Increases reproducibility across operators and sites.
- Reduces dependency on enzyme quality and variability.
- Supports standardized sample preparation workflows.
FAQ
Q: When is mechanical dissociation preferred?
A: When enzymes may alter surface markers or cell state.
Q: What is a key quality metric?
A: High viability with representative cell populations.