Chapter 1 - Introduction

Question 1

What is animal cell culture?

Answer 1

The maintenance & growth of cells from animals in an in-vitro environment

Question 2

What is biotechnology?

Answer 2

The production of economically useful products by organisms and cells

Question 3

What are the components of cells?

Answer 3

Cell membrane - phosopholipid bilayer seperates inside from outside

Nucleus - contains cell’s DNA

Cytoplasm - Cytosol (intracellular fluid) and organelles (membranous and mambranous)

Question 4

What is the ECM comprised of?

Answer 4

Proteoglycasn and insoluble protein fibres

Question 5

Explain the different cell junctions

Answer 5

Gap Junctions - Protein channels (connexons) between adjacent cells; used as a method of communication by allowing chemicals and electrical signals to pass

Tight Junctions - Partial fusion of cell membranes; materials cannot pass in between the 2 cells (occluding)

Anchoring Junctions - Interactions between ECM or other cell; unlike tight junctions, materials can move between the 2 cells

Question 6

What types of tissues are in humans?

Answer 6

Epithelial - The layer of cells covering organs & line cavities

Connective - Forms major structural component of animals

Muscle - Specialized group of cells for contraction

Nervous - Cells that transmit electrical impulses

Question 7

What factors were derived about cell culturing from Harrison’s experiments?

Answer 7

Cells in culture required a support for growth (a surface for anchoring)

Cells require nutrients (in Harrison’s experiments, it was the lymph clot)

Cells in culture grew slower than bacteria; likelihood of contamination is increased.