Project‐Based Biochemistry Laboratory Course: Integrating Cell Culture Techniques

Animal cell culture techniques are important skills for professionals in the biochemistry research and industrial fields. However, due to the specialized equipment needed to perform animal cell culture, many students do not gain experience in such approaches in an undergraduate curriculum. If, however, the class size is small, animal cell culture techniques can be taught and integrated into subsequent projects in an undergraduate teaching laboratory. At Roanoke College, we have integrated animal cell culture training into the undergraduate biochemistry laboratory course. After an initial project in which the students learn and begin to master the techniques, subsequent projects require the students to maintain and use their cell cultures. This poster outlines the approach used to teach general cell culture techniques and the subsequent projects in which students utilize their cell lines. Students have commented favorably about their training, with many of them noting that having learned such techniques is beneficial upon seeking employment after graduation.