The A549 cell line was established in 1972 by DJ Giad, et al. The original cells were derived from a cell culture of carcinomatous lung tissue of a 58 year old Caucasian male with lung cancer. Additional examination of the cells by M. Lieber, et. al. revealed the cells could synthesize lecithin with a higher percentage of denaturated fatty acid through the cytidine diphosphocholine pathway. The cells are hypotriploid human cells with 24% containing a modal chromosome number of 66. Findings have frequently found that the cells have a chromosomal count of 64,65,or 67. Typically, these cells act as in vitro cell models for type II pulmonary epithelial cell research examining drug metabolism within the cell. Often the A549 cells are used for research studies on respiratory illnesses such as, viral induced asthma infections, lung tissue damage resulting from asbestos exposure and smoker-related emphysema. The development of knockdown systems and gene therapy treatments is possible t