Tissue Culture Laboratory Equipment list

A tissue culture laboratory is a specialized, highly sterile facility designed to grow and manipulate cells, tissues, or organs outside of their original organism (in vitro) under controlled environmental conditions.

The primary function of the lab is to provide an aseptic environment, essential for preventing microbial contamination (like bacteria, fungi, or mold) which would quickly destroy the delicate cultures.

Uses of a Tissue Culture Laboratory

Tissue culture is a fundamental technique across many biological sciences:

Field	Application
Plant Science (Micropropagation)	Rapid, large-scale cloning of plants (especially rare, endangered, or commercially valuable varieties); breeding and genetic modification; production of disease-free plant material.
Animal/Human Biology	Studying cell behavior, disease mechanisms (like cancer or viral infections); drug discovery and toxicology testing; producing biological products like vaccines and therapeutic proteins (antibodies).
Regenerative Medicine	Growing stem cells for potential cell therapies; engineering tissues and organs (e.g., skin grafts, artificial organs).

Essential Equipment

A tissue culture lab is typically divided into separate areas for media preparation, sterile transfer, and growth, each requiring specific equipment.

1. Sterilization and Aseptic Work

This equipment ensures a sterile working environment for handling cultures.

• Laminar Flow Hood/Biological Safety Cabinet (BSC): Provides a contaminant-free workspace by continuously filtering the air over the work surface using a HEPA filter. This is the primary location for all manipulations.
• Autoclave: Uses high-pressure steam to sterilize glassware, culture vessels, and nutrient media.
• Glass Bead Sterilizer or Alcohol Burner: Used to sterilize small tools like forceps and scalpels during transfer.
• UV Light: Often integrated into the laminar flow hood for surface sterilization (used before and after work).

2. Media Preparation

The nutrient media must be accurately prepared to support cell growth.

• Digital Balance: For precisely weighing media components, growth regulators, and chemicals.
• pH Meter: To accurately adjust the acidity or alkalinity of the nutrient medium.
• Magnetic Stirrer with Hot Plate: To dissolve components and sterilize the liquid media (if no autoclave is used).
• Distilled Water System: To ensure high-purity water for media preparation, as mineral content can affect cell viability.
• Micropipettes and Pipette Aid: For accurate dispensing of small volumes, especially for growth regulators.

3. Culture Growth and Incubation

The culture environment is precisely controlled to mimic the optimal conditions for the cells.

• Incubator (for animal cells): Maintains precise temperature (37 Degree Celsius for mammalian cells) and controlled gas conditions (often CO₂ in air).
• Growth/Culture Racks (for plants): Shelving units equipped with artificial lighting (usually fluorescent or LED lights) and a timer to control the photoperiod.
• Environmental Chamber/Cold Room: Maintains a constant temperature and humidity, especially crucial for plant cultures.
• Inverted Microscope (for animal cells): Allows researchers to view and assess the health of the cells growing on the bottom of a culture dish without disturbing the culture.