Cells: Cell Culture

Question 1

Examples of cell culture

Answer 1

beer
wine
cheese
bread

Question 2

growth mediums

Answer 2

• early mediums were broth (blood, serum)
• agar (seaweed product)
  …carbohydrate polymer
  …first used by Koch to grow/isolate bacteria (anthrax & tuberculosis)
  …“inert” medium - cells growing in it cannot use it or metabolise agar for growth but only the nutrients provided in the medium

Question 3

Cell Culture - Fleming

Answer 3

grew staphylococcus bacteria, spore of the penicillium fungus contaminated, fungus released penicillin, killed bacterial cells

Question 4

Cell Culture - HeLa cells

Answer 4

tumour cells from Henrietta Lacks
died 1951 from cervical cancer
used in research labs worldwide

Question 5

Cell Culture Technique

Answer 5

1. tissue dissected to expose desired cells
2. protein-digesting enzyme separates the cell
3. plant cultures can use certain sections of the parent plant
4. procedures are carried out in sterile conditions to prevent infection of the cells and contamination

Question 6

Cell Culture Key Requirements

Answer 6

• 1. nutrient medium: agar/broth containing sugars, organic compounds, minerals etc.
• 2. suitable temperature: eg. 37 for humans
• 3. sterile conditions: prevent infection (antibiotics added)
     
     4. pH, osmotic balance, hormones/growth factors

Question 7

Types of Cell Culture

Answer 7

• animal: needs vitamins, organic compounds, osmotic balance, pH
• plant: plant cells divide & grow easily; process: small group of cells/tissue cut from parent plant, washed with alcohol (sterilised), placed in nutrient medium, cells can divide and grow into roots/shoots

Question 8

Uses of Cell Culture

Answer 8

• plant propogation: growing seedlings eg. florists
• genetics: study many generations, short time
• cosmetics: product testing on tissue
• medicine: cancer cell research, skin grafts for burn victims, produce insulin, IVF storage of eggs, drug testing for dosage/side effects
• food production: yeast for beer, wine
• stem cell research: potential for pluripotent cells to create replacement tissues/organs