Kids learn to culture muscle cells!
Integriculture Inc. in collaboration with Leave-a-Nest Co., Ltd has conducted an educational programme titled “Cell culture research experience — Let’s grow some muscle cells!” for primary school children on July 30 & 31 at Leave-a-Nest Laboratory in Tokyo.
In the morning of Day 1, the attending children learned how cells make up animal and human body by learning the use of microscopes and DNA extraction.
In the afternoon, children were lectured on the basics of cell culture and its procedure. This was followed by an experiment session, where each child had a chance to replicate standard cell culture procedure that uses culture medium, flow cabinet and micropipettes.
The morning session of Day 2 covered dyeing of cell nuclei and actin filaments for observation under inverted fluorescence microscope. Joyous screams of children filled the laboratory a number of times as images of cells dyed in red (actin filaments) and blue (nuclei) appeared on the microscope screen.
In the final presentation session, the attending children were active in suggesting further experiments, such as induction of cell differentiation and changing the composition of culture medium.
Dr. Hanyu, who represent Integriculture Inc./”Shojinmeat Project” closed the programme with a short lecture on how cell culture can “grow meat”, and how this technology relates to solving world’s food problem and establishing a Mars Colony.
We wish this cell culture school programme has given the children a valuable rare scientific experience and leads them to further eye-opening moments in the future.
This cell culture school by Leave-a-Nest and Integriculture will return in December!
