BSC 2419C - Cell Culture

College of Natural Sciences

Credit(s): 3
Contact Hours: 62
Effective Term Fall 2022 (610)

Requisites

Prerequisite BSC 2426C with a minimum grade of C or
(Prerequisite MCB 2010 with a minimum grade of C and
(Prerequisite MCB 2010L with a minimum grade of C or
Prerequisite MCB 2010CH with a minimum grade of C)
) or
(Prerequisite MCB 3020 with a minimum grade of C and
(Prerequisite MCB 3020L with a minimum grade of C or
Prerequisite MCB 3020C with a minimum grade of C))

Course Description

This course introduces the skills used in the biotechnology industry for plant and animal cell culture. This course emphasizes hands on training in the principles and practices of cultivation, maintenance and preservation of established cell lines including implementation of these practices in project design and management.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

  1. The student will demonstrate the methods of cell culture maintenance by:
    1. describing the requirements for in vitro cell culture for both immortalized and primary cells.
    2. utilizing aseptic technique to successfully passage cells in culture twice in succession without contamination in medium without antibiotics.
    3. discussing the various methods and protocols for monitoring cell growth.
    4. identifying various types of cell culture contaminants.
    5. determining cell numbers, generation time and viability using manual (hemocytometer) and automated techniques.
    6. calculating appropriate cell to volume ratios for plating and propagation of cell culture stocks.
    7. successfully performing procedures to cryopreserve and thaw cell culture stocks.
  2. The student will practice the proper handling and operation of tissue culture laboratory equipment by:
    1. listing the equipment needed for a cell culture laboratory.
    2. troubleshooting technical and maintenance issues needed for the appropriate operation of laboratory equipment; including service contracts, maintenance schedules, testing and validation.
    3. maintaining documentation in laboratory notebooks and equipment log books.
    4. demonstrating the appropriate operation of cell culture equipment; including microscopes, laminar flow hood, carbon dioxide incubators, gas regulators and tanks, autoclaves, pipets, cryogenic freezers, centrifuges, water baths, pH meters.
    5. listing the potential safety hazards in a cell culture laboratory and designing and implementing a safety plan for a cell culture laboratory.
  3. The student will demonstrate competency in cell culture techniques by:
    1. comparing the use of primary, transformed and diseased cells as model systems.
    2. designing and carrying out a cell culture experiment.
    3. analyzing and presenting the results of cell culture experiments.

Criteria Performance Standard

Upon successful completion of the course the student will, with a minimum of 70% accuracy, demonstrate mastery of the above stated objectives through laboratory measurements developed by individual course instructors.

History of Changes

C&I Approval: 11/21/2014, BOT Approval: 02/17/2015, Effective Term: Fall 2015 (505). C&I Approval: 02/14/2019, BOT Approval: 03/19/2019, Effective Term: Fall 2019 (565). C&I Approval: 02/21/2020, BOT Approval: 03/17/2020, Effective Term: Fall 2020 (580). C&I Approval: , BOT Approval: , Effective Term: Spring 2021 (585).
C&I Approval: , BOT Approval: , Effective Term: Fall 2022 (610)

Related Programs

  1. Biology (BIOLOGY-BS) (670) (Active)
  2. Biotechnology Laboratory Specialist (BIOT-CT) (625) (Active)
  3. Biotechnology Laboratory Technology (BIOT-AS) (640) (Active)
  4. Laboratory Specialist (LAB-ATC) (670) (Active)