Biotechnology (W16) - Flow Cytometry

Question 1

Flow cytometry is a very powerful technique that enables researchers and clinicians to what?

Answer 1

Analyze the properties of single cells within a population of cells.

Question 2

Flow cytometry is commonly used in clinical diagnosis because?

Answer 2

it distinguishes the presence of specific cell types or of cells exhibiting specific markers.

Question 3

Flow cytometry is employed as both a diagnostic and prognostic tool for the analysis of?

Answer 3

lymphomas and leukomias

Question 4

Lymphomas and leukemias are identified using flow cytometry to identify the presence of cell surface marker characteristics of the malignancies by what?

Answer 4

By using specific antibodies or fluorophores to identify the presence of cell surface marker characteristics

Question 5

What are the major areas of use for flow cytometers?

Answer 5

Determination of ploidy and cell cycle analysis for cancer research

Question 6

What are the four basic systems that all flow cytometers have in common?

Answer 6

1) Fluidic system that is the heart of the instrument
2) illumination source (generally a laser)
3) optical and electronics systems
4) data storage and computer control system

Question 7

What does the fluidic system do?

Answer 7

Determines how light meets and interacts with cells and particles.

Question 8

Typically, singe particle sample suspensions are directed into a diluent. What is this diluent?

Answer 8

Sheath fluid

Question 9

The single particle sample suspensions are directed into what and forced into what by what?

Answer 9

The single particle sample suspensions are directed into a diluent (sheath fluid) and forced into a chamber by air pressure.

Question 10

How does the sample travel through the chamber?

Answer 10

laminar flow

Question 11

The pressure of the sheath fluid does what to the cells?

Answer 11

Aligns the cells and/or particles in a single file

Question 12

What is the purpose of the laser?

Answer 12

Lasers are used as the illumination source because:

1) the beams remain compact with little divergence
2) they have high spectral purity (single wavelength)
3) they are excellent excitation sources

Question 13

The flow cytometer will project a beam of laser light through the ________ liquid stream of ________ _______ buffer to _______ the cells in suspension.

Answer 13

1) continuous
2) sheath fluid
3) illuminate

Question 14

What is done to facilitate the measurement of biological properties?

Answer 14

Cells are often conjugated to fluorescent probes that bind to specific cellular constituents.

Question 15

What are the fluorescent probes, generally?

Answer 15

1) monoclonal antibodies conjugated to fluorochromes