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Bowey-Dellinger K, Dixon L, Ackerman K, et al. Introducing Mammalian Cell Culture and Cell Viability Techniques in the Undergraduate Biology Laboratory. J Microbiol Biol Educ. 2017;18(2)doi: 10.1128/jmbe.v18i2.1264.
Bowey-Dellinger, K., Dixon, L., Ackerman, K., Vigueira, C., Suh, Y. K., Lyda, T., Sapp, K., Grider, M., Crater, D., Russell, T., Elias, M., Coffield, V. M., & Segarra, V. A. (2017). Introducing Mammalian Cell Culture and Cell Viability Techniques in the Undergraduate Biology Laboratory. Journal of microbiology & biology education, 18(2), . https://doi.org/10.1128/jmbe.v18i2.1264
Bowey-Dellinger, Kristen, et al. "Introducing Mammalian Cell Culture and Cell Viability Techniques in the Undergraduate Biology Laboratory." Journal of microbiology & biology education vol. 18,2 (2017). doi: https://doi.org/10.1128/jmbe.v18i2.1264
Bowey-Dellinger K, Dixon L, Ackerman K, Vigueira C, Suh YK, Lyda T, Sapp K, Grider M, Crater D, Russell T, Elias M, Coffield VM, Segarra VA. Introducing Mammalian Cell Culture and Cell Viability Techniques in the Undergraduate Biology Laboratory. J Microbiol Biol Educ. 2017 Aug 11;18(2). doi: 10.1128/jmbe.v18i2.1264. eCollection 2017. PMID: 28861134; PMCID: PMC5576768.
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J Microbiol Biol Educ. 2017 Aug 11;18(2). doi: 10.1128/jmbe.v18i2.1264. eCollection 2017.

Introducing Mammalian Cell Culture and Cell Viability Techniques in the Undergraduate Biology Laboratory.

Journal of microbiology & biology education

Kristen Bowey-Dellinger, Luke Dixon, Kristin Ackerman, Cynthia Vigueira, Yewseok K Suh, Todd Lyda, Kelli Sapp, Michael Grider, Dinene Crater, Travis Russell, Michael Elias, V McNeil Coffield, Verónica A Segarra

Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, High Point University, High Point, NC 27268.
  2. Department of Nanoscience, Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27401.

PMID: 28861134 PMCID: PMC5576768 DOI: 10.1128/jmbe.v18i2.1264

Abstract

Undergraduate students learn about mammalian cell culture applications in introductory biology courses. However, laboratory modules are rarely designed to provide hands-on experience with mammalian cells or teach cell culture techniques, such as trypsinization and cell counting. Students are more likely to learn about cell culture using bacteria or yeast, as they are typically easier to grow, culture, and manipulate given the equipment, tools, and environment of most undergraduate biology laboratories. In contrast, the utilization of mammalian cells requires a dedicated biological safety cabinet and rigorous antiseptic techniques. For this reason, we have devised a laboratory module and method herein that familiarizes students with common cell culture procedures, without the use of a sterile hood or large cell culture facility. Students design and perform a time-efficient inquiry-based cell viability experiment using HeLa cells and tools that are readily available in an undergraduate biology laboratory. Students will become familiar with common techniques such as trypsinizing cells, cell counting with a hemocytometer, performing serial dilutions, and determining cell viability using trypan blue dye. Additionally, students will work with graphing software to analyze their data and think critically about the mechanism of death on a cellular level. Two different adaptations of this inquiry-based lab are presented-one for non-biology majors and one for biology majors. Overall, these laboratories aim to expose students to mammalian cell culture and basic techniques and help them to conceptualize their application in scientific research.

References

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  2. J Microbiol Biol Educ. 2013 May 06;14(1):78-83 - PubMed
  3. Nature. 1985 Mar 7-13;314(6006):111-4 - PubMed

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