Hela cells are an adherent cell line; that is they stick to the bottom of the cell culture flask. They are able to rapidly grow till the cells come in contact with each other and then they stop growing. They usually spread across the surface of the flask and when two adjacent cells come in contact with each other, they stop growing, a phenomena called “contact inhibition”. This growth pattern in a classic growth pattern of oncogenic cells. The doubling time for Hela cells are approximately 24 hours.
Watch adherent Hela cells in cell culture.