living cells

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "living cells" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in scientific contexts, particularly in biology, to refer to cells that are currently alive and functioning. Example: "The study focused on the behavior of living cells in response to various stimuli."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The sperm and egg are living cells.

The New York Times

CAN living cells be transformed into computers?

The New York Times - Tech

Defences that repair DNA in living cells disappear after death.

The Guardian

"These nanofactories use no enzymes, no living cells, no swarms of roaming, replicating nanobots," he wrote.

The New York Times - Science

Tests like examining slices of the heart under a microscope showed they were living cells.

The New York Times - Health

Ozone damages living cells, and therefore can harm not only growing plants but also people's lungs.

The New York Times - Travel

Tranquillo's synthetic blood vessels are made from gels seeded with living cells called fibroblasts.

The Guardian

"We repopulated the dead scar with living cells," Dr. Menasche said.

The New York Times - Health

DNA in living cells is under constant attack from chemicals and radiation.

The New York Times

All of ImClone's drugs are so-called biologics, meaning they are proteins made in living cells.

The New York Times

Brown fat cells contain large numbers of mitochondria, the chemical batteries of living cells.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing experiments involving cells, ensure you specify whether you are working with "living cells" versus dead or preserved cells, as their behavior and responses will differ significantly.

Common error

Avoid assuming that just because cells are "living cells", they are also functioning optimally. Assess cell viability and functionality separately to gain a comprehensive understanding of your system.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "living cells" primarily functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. As shown in Ludwig, it specifies the state of cells being alive and active in various biological contexts. It can also function as an adjective, for example in the phrase "living cell cultures".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

61%

News & Media

37%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "living cells" is a grammatically correct and very common term, primarily used in scientific and news-related contexts to differentiate between cells that are alive and functioning versus those that are not. As demonstrated by Ludwig, its function is often to specify cell viability and activity, especially in research and biological studies. The phrase's register is generally formal, reflecting its frequent use in academic publications. It’s important to use "living cells" when cell viability matters and to avoid assuming functionality based solely on the cells being alive, as Ludwig AI points out.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

viable cells

Focuses on the cells' ability to survive and function under specific conditions.

live cells

A more concise way of saying "living cells", emphasizing the state of being alive.

active cells

Highlights the functional aspect of the cells, suggesting they are currently performing their biological roles.

living biological units

Emphasizes the biological nature and the individual unit aspect of cells.

cellular organisms

Shifts the focus slightly towards the organismal aspect of cells, especially in the context of single-celled organisms.

organic cells

Highlights the cells' organic composition and natural origin.

thriving cells

Suggests the cells are not just alive, but also healthy and growing well.

extant cells

A more formal way of indicating that the cells are currently in existence.

functioning cells

Emphasizes the functional capacity and operational status of the cells.

existing cells

Implies that the cells are present and currently part of a system or environment.

FAQs

How can I use the phrase "living cells" in a sentence?

You can use "living cells" to describe biological processes, experiments, or observations related to cells that are alive and active. For example, "The experiment studied the response of "living cells" to a new drug".

What's a good alternative to "living cells"?

Depending on the context, you could use "viable cells" or "active cells" to convey a similar meaning.

Is there a difference between "living cells" and "dead cells"?

Yes, "living cells" are cells that are currently alive and functioning, while dead cells are no longer alive and their cellular processes have ceased. Dead cells often have different properties and responses compared to "living cells".

In what context is it important to specify "living cells"?

It's crucial to specify "living cells" when the distinction between alive and non-alive cells is important, such as in research involving cell cultures, tissue engineering, or drug testing. This helps ensure clarity and avoids misinterpretation of results. For instance, when discussing the impact of a toxin, it is important to specify that "ozone damages "living cells", and therefore can harm not only growing plants but also people's lungs."