Cell Culture
Code: 100887 ECTS Credits: 3| Degree | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Biochemistry | OB | 2 |
Contact
- Name:
- Maria del Carme Nogues Sanmiquel
- Email:
- carme.nogues@uab.cat
Teaching groups languages
You can view this information at the end of this document.
Prerequisites
There are not
Objectives and Contextualisation
Cell Culture course is taught in the 2nd semester of the 2nd year of the Biochemistry degree in the Faculty of Biosciences. This is a subject with a certain degree of expertise that is intended to acquire a basic knowledge to work in a cell culture laboratory. It is therefore a subject with an important practical component.
Course objectives:
1) Know the basic equipment of a cell culture laboratory.
2) Know the most used types of cultures.
3) Know the basic methodologies used in cell cultures.
Learning Outcomes
- CM22 (Competence) Clearly and concisely describe experimental results in the field of biochemistry, considering options for improvement.
- CM23 (Competence) Work as a team when performing experiments and analysing their results.
- CM24 (Competence) Understand disposal methods for the different types of waste generated in a biochemistry or molecular biology laboratory.
- KM26 (Knowledge) Identify cell systems useful for experimentation in biochemistry and molecular biology.
- KM27 (Knowledge) Describe the theoretical foundations and instrumentation used in basic and advanced biochemistry.
- SM25 (Skill) Use digital resources to search for information, study biomolecules and calculate key parameters.
- SM26 (Skill) Interpret experimental results obtained using the main techniques of biochemistry.
- SM27 (Skill) Apply the techniques and methods for addressing cell culture techniques, classical genetics, immunological detection, recombinant DNA, separation, purification and analysis of biomolecules in the biochemical field.
Content
THEORETICAL CLASS PROGRAM
It mainly consists of learning about the equipment, facilities, materials, and techniques necessary for handling and culturing animal cells, and using biological material under sterile conditions.
- Introduction to cell cultures
- Cell cultures by origin
- Cell cultures by structure
- Physical and biological conditions of cell cultures
- Biosafety and laboratory organization
- Laboratory techniques in cell culture
- Cell characterization techniques
- Fluorescence microscopy
- Techniques for studying cell viability
PRACTICAL CLASS PROGRAM
Broadly speaking, the practical sessions involve handling cultures of eukaryotic animal cells. The 5 lab sessions are designed for students to complement their theoretical training with basic techniques and the equipment of a cell culture laboratory. The practical sessions will cover:
- Subculturing of an established cell line (VERO cells) in a biological safety cabinet
- Monitoring the growth of a cell culture
- Detection of microtubules in VERO cells by immunofluorescence
- Observation of various cellular structures in vivo using confocal laser microscopy
- Evaluation of cryoprotectant efficiency. Freezing and thawing of cells
- Induction and detection of apoptotic cells
- Evaluation of cell cycle disruption using different drugs
- Discussion of results
Activities and Methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Laboratory practices | 16 | 0.64 | CM22, CM23, CM24, KM26, KM27, SM26, SM27, CM22 |
| Lectures | 10 | 0.4 | CM22, CM24, KM26, KM27, SM25, SM26, SM27, CM22 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Tutorials | 6 | 0.24 | CM24, KM27, SM26, CM24 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Study | 35 | 1.4 | CM22, CM23, CM24, SM25, SM26, SM27, CM22 |
The subject of cell cultures consists of theoretical master classes (10 hours) using audiovisual materials and practical classes in the laboratory (16 hours)
Theoretical Classes:
The theoretical master classes will be conducted using audiovisual material prepared by the professor. This material will be available to students on the Virtual Campus (CV) of the UAB before each session. It is recommended to consult the audiovisual material and the recommended books in the Bibliography section of this teaching guide to consolidate the content explained in class.
Practical Classes:
The practical classes for this subject are designed to help students learn to use laboratory instruments and enhance their theoretical knowledge. These practical classes are not associated with the Integrated Laboratory IV subject, as the cell culture subject is theoretical-practical.
There are 5 practical sessions totalling 16 hours, scheduled from Monday to Friday. Prior to starting the first session, a mandatory presentation session will be held for each group. The practical guide will be available in PDF format on the CV.
Each day, students will need to submit an exercise (via CV) or complete a questionnaire (in the classroom) at the beginning of each practical session related to the day’s experiments. These activities will be evaluated and contribute to the final grade for the subject. Late arrival to the session will result in the inability to complete the questionnaires.
Students will work in pairs. Each pair must submit a report showing and discussing the results obtained, both individually and as part of the practical group. The goal of this activity is to promote scientific reasoning at both the individual and team levels.
Tutorials:
Tutorials will be personalized and held in the professor’soffice (Room C2/042) at a convenient time. They should be used to clarify concepts, reinforce acquired knowledge, and facilitate student study.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Assessment
Continous Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laboratory results | 15% | 5 | 0.2 | CM22, CM23, CM24, SM25, SM26 |
| Practices and results discussion exam | 25% | 1 | 0.04 | CM22, CM24, KM26, KM27, SM26 |
| Resolution of a problem / case | 30% | 1 | 0.04 | CM22, CM24, KM26, KM27, SM26 |
| Theory test exam | 30% | 1 | 0.04 | CM24, KM26, KM27, SM25, SM26, SM27 |
To pass the subject, you’ll need to achieve a minimum overall score of 5 out of a maximum of 10 points. The scheduled evaluation activities are as follows:
Theory Exam:
Consists of two distinct parts. In the first part, students must demonstrate their knowledge of various concepts taught in theory classes. This part represents 30% of the grade. The second part presents a practical case, and students must determine which experiments would lead to the expected results. This part contributes 30% to the overall grade.
Laboratory Practices:
Account for 15% of the subject’s grade. Attendance at laboratory practical sessions is mandatory. Punctuality is crucial, as the first 30 minutes of each session cover the different methodologies used during the practice. Delays of 10 minutes result in a 0.1-point deduction per delay (and no questionnaire can be completed; see below). If the delay exceeds 30 minutes, the penalty is 0.3 points.
Students receive a “Not Evaluable” grade if their absence exceeds 20% of the sessions.
To ensure smooth functioning and understanding of the practices, students must read the corresponding practice guide before each session. Each day, they should complete a questionnaire related to the day’s practice before the session begins. This questionnaire is evaluated with a maximum daily score of 0.1 point, up to a total of 0.4 points. Scores below 0.4 will impact this block’s grade.
Practices are conducted in pairs. Each pair must submit a report on the results obtained and discuss both their own results (as a pair) and those of the “practice class group” in comparison with the expected results. The maximum score for this work is 10 points, and submissions are made through the CV.
Examination on Laboratory Techniques:
Represents 25% of the subject’s grade. A written exam covering the various techniques used and the results obtained during the practices.
Subject Grade Calculation:
Theory (30% + 30%) + Practices (25% + 15%)
Recovery:
To participate in the recovery, students must have been previously evaluated in a set of activities that account for at least two-thirds of the total subject or module grade.
Students receive a “Not Evaluable” grade if the weight of the evaluation activities performed is less than 67% of the final grade.
There will be a recovery exam for students who scored below 3.99 in the knowledge exam (which contributes 40% of the grade). The “practical case” (20% of the grade) and “practices” (20% of the grade) exams will not be retaken
NB: This text has not been proofreading by a native English, so incase of any doubt or incongruity, the information provided in the Catalan/Spanish version will prevail.
Bibliography
-R.I. Freshney. Culture of Animal Cells: A manual of basic technique and specialized applications. 7th ed. Wiley-Blackwell. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2016. Accés lliure a la 6th ed (2010) al personal UAB: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9780470649367
- A. Doyle and J.B. Griffiths Eds. Cell and Tissue Culture: Laboratory procedures in biotechnology. John Wiley & Sons Ltd. 1999. ISBN: 978-0471982555 (no hi ha cap nova edició)
-J.P. Mather and D. Barnes Eds. Animal Cell Culture Methods. Methods in Cell Biology. Academic Press.1998. (en paper i electrònic). ISBN: 978-0124800403
Software
No software is used
Groups and Languages
Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.
| Name | Group | Language | Semester | Turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 321 | Catalan | second semester | morning-mixed |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 322 | Catalan | second semester | morning-mixed |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 323 | Catalan | second semester | morning-mixed |
| (TE) Theory | 32 | Catalan | second semester | afternoon |