Cell Culture Technology
Theory: 2 hours/week | Practicals: 2 hours/week | ECTS Units: 4
Tutoring in the English language is offered to Erasmus students
Learning Outcomes
After the successful completion of the course:
- the students will know the theoretical principles of cell cultures, the practical methods followed for the creation, growth and maintenance of different types of cells (primary cultures, cell lines) in culture as well as the possibilities provided by cell cultures in basic (modification of gene expression, assessment of cell death, cell cycle studies) and in applied research (gene therapy and stem cell transfer therapy),
- the students will have developed the necessary knowledge acquisition skills to continue their studies in subjects of cell culture technology, such as maintenance of cells in culture, cell passage process, long-term cell preservation, measurement of the number of (live and dead) cells, detection of infections in cell cultures, assessment of the toxic effect of substances in cell cultures, transfection of cells in culture,
- the students will be familiar with the use of modern international bibliography and the search for articles published in high impact factor journals, they will have understood advanced-level topics arising from contemporary cutting-edge developments in their field of knowledge, and they will have acquired the ability to develop and publicly present a topic in the specific field.
Analytical Description of the Course
- Introduction – Historical review – Applications of cell cultures in the study of biological systems.
- Classification of cell cultures: tissues and cell types, primary cultures, cell lines.
- Cell culture lab equipment, cell culture materials and nutrients.
- Cell culture maintenance conditions: cell passage and long-term preservation.
- Techniques and methods used for the observation and characterization of cells in culture.
- Cell cycle – Cell death.
- Modulation of gene expression in cell culture models – transfection of cells in culture.
- Use of cell cultures in regenerative medicine: cultures of stem (embryonic, adult, induced pluripotent) cells.
Student Performance Evaluation
Students are graded based on their performance in the oral presentation of a research topic (50%) and based on their performance in written examinations at the end of the semester (50%). During the semester, students will present publicly, in groups of 2-3 individuals, a research article or review. Students are graded based on their presentation skills, as well as their in-depth understanding of the topic it addresses based on their ability to answer the questions posed by the teachers following the presentation. At the end of the semester the written exams include multiple choice questions, true/false questions, matching questions, questions with short answers, as well as essay questions requiring written responses of one-two paragraphs. The total of correct answers corresponds to 100 points, which are reduced to a grade of 10.
Suggested Bibliography
- Cultures of Animal Cells. A manual of basic technique, Freshney R.I., 5th edition, Wiley-Liss. A John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Publications, Inc, New Jersey, 2005.
- Human Stem Cell Manual: A Laboratory Guide, Loring J.F., Academic Press, Elsevier, New York, 2007.
Teaching Material / E-class
Lecturers
Kalliopi Liadaki (Course Coordinator)
