Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hello,
I am currently working on a project for the Intel ISEF Science Fair that deals directly with Human Dermal Fibroblasts. I have been avidly researching the cell, and all the rules that regulate cell culturing. On the ATCC website,
"Primary Dermal Fibroblasts; Normal, Human, Adult (ATCC® PCS-201-012™)" are listed under Biosafety Level 1. Would this be acceptable to bring into a high school laboratory and cultivate them?

Thank you for your time and any information is greatly appreciated.

Hi,

BSL1 is the lowest safety level and should be achievable in a high school lab. Check with your teachers, however, to make sure. Tissue culture waste can be disinfected with 10% Clorox.

Does your school have a laminar flow biosafety hood in which you can replace culture medium, treat and transfer the cells? You need to work in an aseptic environment to prevent contamination of the cultures with bacteria or yeast. You will also need a centrifuge and inverted microscope. If you have all these things and know how to use them, then you should be able to do the project.

Let us know if you have more questions.

Sybee

Thank you for the prompt response.

Yes, my school laboratory is equipped with a Class II Laminar Flow Hood, as well as a centrifuge. I would have to ask my teacher, or attempt to find a place where we can obtain an inverted microscope.

Do you have any useful tips or techniques for growing and maintaining dermal fibroblasts?

I appreciate all the help and information.

Hi,

When you receive the fibroblast cells from ATCC, they will include instructions on how to grow them, or you can go to the ATCC website and see the instructions online. If you have never done cell culture, you will need to have someone who knows how show you the procedure. It is easy, but you have to work in the hood which is a little awkward at first and you have to be careful with pipetting so you don't contaminate your culture with bacteria or yeast.

You should probably check the growth instructions online now in case you need to order the recommended medium. There are several different media for cell culture and it depends on the cell type which one you use. Most of them require supplementation with fetal bovine serum, but sometimes you can use the much cheaper bovine serum. You will also need trypsin/EDTA to release the cells from the dish when you subculture them, but your lab probably has that in the freezer.

Let us know when you have more questions.

Sybee