Ham’s F-10 medium, developed by Richard G. Ham in the early 1960s, was designed to support the clonal growth of Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells and other fastidious mammalian cell lines (Ham, 1963). It is part of the classical basic media group in cell culture, along with media such as Medium 199 (M199), Basal Medium Eagle (BME), and Minimum Essential Medium (MEM). These classical media represent the foundation upon which modern synthetic and specialized media have been developed.
Key Advantages of Ham's F-10
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Nutrient-rich formulation: Contains a high concentration of amino acids, vitamins, and co-factors such as biotin, folic acid, hypoxanthine, and thymidine, which are vital for DNA synthesis and cellular metabolism.
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Designed for clonal selection: Optimized for supporting the growth of single-cell-derived colonies, especially CHO cells, human diploid cells, and mouse L-cells.
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Low protein content: Enables the use of defined or reduced-serum conditions, making it ideal for serum-free adaptations and hormone-supplemented systems.
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Suitable for specialized research: Extensively used in reproductive biology, particularly for sperm capacitation, oocyte culture, and in vitro fertilization (IVF) studies.
Common Applications
Ham’s F-10 medium is widely used in both research and clinical applications, including:
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Reproductive biology: Fertilization studies, oocyte and embryo culture.
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Clonal selection: Isolation and expansion of single cell lines (e.g., CHO, HeLa).
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Serum-reduced systems: Due to its rich composition, it's a strong base for media with low or no serum.
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Endocrinology and hormone research: Used with supplements like insulin, hydrocortisone, or transferrin.
Composition Highlights
Ham’s F-10 contains:
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Essential and non-essential amino acids
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High levels of vitamins, including folic acid and biotin
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Purine and pyrimidine derivatives (e.g., hypoxanthine, thymidine)
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Glucose, calcium chloride, and balanced salts
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Often supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS) or hormonal additives depending on application.