A serum-free C3A clonal cell line and methods for generating the same are provided. The C3A cell line has a reduced doubling time in serum-free medium compared to a corresponding C3A cell line from which it is derived. Methods using the cells of the serum-free C3A clonal cell line for the production, expression and recovery of harvestable polypeptides, screening compounds for metabolic activity, studying enteric disease and for use in a bio-artificial liver device are also provided.