BACE Cell Culture Fundamentals 2

Question 1

What is the purpose of the CO2 in a cell culture incubator?

Accepted Answer

To maintain media pH by equilibrating with bicarbonate-buffered media

Answer

To provide carbon for cell metabolism

Answer

To prevent oxygen toxicity to cells

Answer

To sterilize the incubator interior

Question 2

What does the term 'passage number' refer to in cell culture?

Accepted Answer

The number of times cells have been subcultured (split) since the original stock

Answer

The number of cells seeded per flask

Answer

The concentration of antibiotics in the media

Answer

The time elapsed since cells were thawed from cryostorage

Question 3

Which supplement is added to basal cell culture media to provide essential growth factors, hormones, and attachment factors?

Accepted Answer

Fetal bovine serum (FBS)

Answer

Antibiotic-antimycotic solution (penicillin/streptomycin)

Answer

Sodium bicarbonate buffer

Answer

L-glutamine

Question 4

What is 'mycoplasma' and why is it a concern in cell culture?

Accepted Answer

A small, cell wall-less bacterium that infects cultures invisibly, altering cell behavior

Answer

A type of yeast that visibly contaminates cultures with white colonies

Answer

A virus that causes cytopathic effects visible by light microscopy

Answer

A common chemical contaminant from plasticware manufacturing

Question 5

When should you use trypan blue dye when working with cell cultures?

Accepted Answer

To assess cell viability by distinguishing live cells (exclude dye) from dead cells (take up dye)

Answer

To stain cells for visualization under a fluorescence microscope

Answer

To buffer the cell suspension during centrifugation

Answer

To neutralize trypsin after cell detachment

Question 6

What is the purpose of T-flask size designation (e.g., T-25, T-75, T-175) in cell culture?

Accepted Answer

It indicates the total growth surface area in cm² available for cell attachment

Answer

It indicates the volume of media required in milliliters

Answer

It specifies the maximum centrifugation speed for cells grown in that flask

Answer

It denotes the recommended passage split ratio