Flow cytometry

Question 1

What does flow cytometry do?

Answer 1

Distinguishes between different cells in a mixed population to determine how many cells meet a certain criteria. Quantifies the number of cells of a particular type in a mixture

Question 2

How can flow cytometry distinguish between cell types?

Answer 2

Size, shape, DNA content, expression of specific proteins

Question 3

How does flow cytometry work?

Answer 3

Cells are forced through the machine single file and pass through a light. The machine measures the scattered light and determines what the cells are

Question 4

How is the data from a flow cytometry experiment presented?

Answer 4

In a scatter plot or with peaks

Question 5

What two types of studies often use flow cytometry?

Answer 5

Immunology and cell division studies

Question 6

Why do we need to sort cells from a population?

Answer 6

Need pure populations of a specific cell type to study them

Question 7

What technique uses flow cytometry to sort cells?

Answer 7

Fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACs)

Question 8

How do you do FACs?

Answer 8

1. Add fluorescent antibody against a cell surface protein
2. Run through the machine and it will separate based on the different fluorescence signal
3. Culture those cells