Mycoplasma are small, cell wall–deficient bacteria that commonly contaminate cell cultures, compromising experimental accuracy and product safety. Undetected mycoplasma can alter cell metabolism, gene expression, and growth behavior, making routine screening and strict GMP-compliant control essential for reliable biopharmaceutical research and manufacturing processes. https://xelleratherapeutics.hashnode.dev/what-is-mycoplasma-and-why-it-is-a-serious-risk-in-cell-culture-labs