Basics of Animal Cell Culture

These flashcards cover the essential vocabulary and concepts necessary for understanding the basics of animal cell culture and microscopy techniques as discussed in the lecture.

Bright-field Light Microscope

A standard type of microscope used to view stained and fixed cells, providing high contrast images.

Köhler Illumination

A technique used to ensure even illumination in microscopy, enhancing image quality by aligning the field and aperture diaphragms.

Inverted Microscope

A microscope where the light source and condenser are above the specimen stage, allowing easy access to view living cells in culture flasks.

Numerical Aperture (N.A.)

A dimensionless number that characterizes the range of angles over which a microscope objective can accept or emit light.

Resolution

The ability of a microscope to distinguish two closely spaced objects as separate; it depends on lens quality, wavelength of light, and numerical aperture.

Chromatic Aberration

A distortion in the image due to the different wavelengths of light being focused at different points, resulting in color fringes around images.

Spherical Aberration

An optical distortion that occurs when light rays that pass through the edges of a lens are focused at a different point than those that pass through the center.

Phase-Contrast Microscopy

A microscopy technique that enhances contrast in transparent specimens, allowing visualization of living cells without staining.

Field of View (FV)

The diameter of the specimen area visible through the microscope; it is determined by the eyepiece field number and objective magnification.

Working Distance (WD)

The distance between the lens of the objective and the specimen when in focus; critical for ensuring proper observation of specimens.

Trypsinization

A process of disaggregating adherent cells from their substrate using trypsin, enabling cell passage and subculturing.

Cell Viability

The proportion of live cells in a population, often assessed using trypan blue exclusion testing.

Passage Number

The number of times cells have been subcultured; it helps monitor the growth and stability of cell lines in culture.

Aseptic Technique

A set of procedures to prevent contamination in cell cultures by ensuring all equipment and environments remain sterile.

Giemsa Staining

A chromosomal staining method used for karyotyping, which produces a G-banding pattern for visualizing chromosomal abnormalities.

Amplification by PCR

A technique that allows for the exponential increase of specific DNA fragments, essential in genetic research and diagnosis.

Hemocytometer

A chamber used for counting cells in a suspension; it allows for the determination of cell concentration and viability.

Cell Culture Medium

A nutrient solution used for growing cells, containing essential nutrients, vitamins, amino acids, and sometimes serum.

Achromatic Lens

Lens designed to correct for chromatic aberrations, typically providing better color focus and image quality.

Apochromatic Lens

A lens corrected for both chromatic and spherical aberrations, providing high resolution over multiple wavelengths.

Focal Point

The point where light rays converge after passing through a lens, forming a clear image of the specimen.

Diffraction

The bending of light waves around obstacles, which can affect the clarity of images produced by microscopes.