The Y79 line was isolated by T.W. Reid and associates in January 1971 by explant culture of a primary tumor from the right eye obtained immediately after enucleation. The donor had a strong maternal family history of retinoblastoma. Ultrastructural features including nuclear membrane infoldings, triple membrane structures, microtubules, large coated vesicles, centrioles, basal bodies and annulate lamellae were reportedly similar to those of the original tumor.