About the Cell Culture Basics - Transfection Virtual Lab Simulation
In the Cell Culture Basics – Transfection simulation, you will transfect a melanoma cell line using a lipid-based reagent in order to overexpress a gene that is involved in skin cancer. You will prepare the cells and reagents and use a DNA plasmid carrying the green fluorescent protein as reporter.
Will you be able to create fluorescent cells?
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Techniques In Lab
- Cell culture
- Cell transfection
- Fluorescence microscopy
Learning Objectives
At the end of this simulation, you will be able to…
- Explain the advantages of using lipidbased transfection methods
- Design a transfection experiment:
- Select the right transfection strategy
- Correctly use controls
- Describe and perform the key steps for transfecting mammalian cells using Lipofectamine 3000:
- Prepare cells to achieve highest transfection efficiency (number of passage, percentage of confluence)
- Prepare reagents (storing, handling, complexation time, incubation time)
- Explain the molecular mechanism of lipidbased transfection
- Troubleshoot poor transfection efficiency outcomes
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