Course Title: Perform tissue and cell culture techniques

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2020

Course Code: BIOL5255C

Course Title: Perform tissue and cell culture techniques

School: 174T School of VE Engineering, Health & Science

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5388 - Diploma of Laboratory Technology

Course Contact: Kirsten Balding

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4283

Course Contact Email: kirsten.balding@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Seb Buckingham

jocesebastian.buckingham@rmit.edu.au  

Nominal Hours: 100

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

MSL973016 Perform aseptic techniques

Course Description

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge to prepare, maintain and preserve cells and cell lines for a variety of applications, such as large scale culture, production of monoclonal antibodies, production of viral vaccines and amniocentesis studies. Personnel are required to optimise equipment set-up, media and growth techniques. They are required to detect and investigate contamination and take preventative and/or corrective actions under supervision.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

MSL975033 Perform tissue and cell culture techniques

Element:

1.Interpret and schedule production requirements

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Review client request and confirm quantity and nature of cells, tissue or products
1.2 Select appropriate media, materials, equipment and methods
1.3 Plan parallel work sequences to optimise production
1.4 Maintain a chain of custody, traceable to the worker, for all cells and tissues

Element:

2. Work safely according to the legal and regulatory framework

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Ensure work practices and personal actions conform to regulations, codes, guidelines and workplace quality assurance procedures
2.2 Identify hazards and workplace control measures associated with the sample, preparation methods, reagents and equipment 2.3 Select, fit and use personal protective equipment (PPE)
2.4 Address hazards and incidents as they arise 2.5 Ensure the safe disposal of biohazardous materials and other laboratory waste

Element:

3. Assemble and maintain tissue culture equipment

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Assemble, sterilise or decontaminate equipment according to workplace procedures 3.2 Perform pre-use and safety checks in accordance with relevant workplace and operating procedures
3.3 Identify faulty or unsafe components and equipment and report to appropriate personnel 3.4 Decontaminate area and equipment after use

Element:

4. Prepare and test cell and tissue culture media

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Confirm media specifications and processes/methods
4.2 Prepare culture media to suit client request 4.3 Sterilise culture media and check for sterility 4.4 Perform quality control checks to ensure that culture media is fit for purpose
4.5 Store culture media in accordance with specifications

Element:

5. Obtain, monitor and maintain tissue and cell lines

Performance Criteria:

5.1 Retrieve/obtain the cell lines or tissue sample from fresh or preserved sources and prepare a culture
5.2 Select specified culture media and add any necessary growth agents or nutrients
5.3 Incubate cells/tissue in specified conditions 5.4 Inoculate the media with the specified amount of sample
5.5 Monitor growth of tissue and cell lines and products
5.6 Detect contamination and troubleshoot materials, equipment and techniques
5.7 Passage samples by subculturing to preserve or grow the line
5.8 Harvest cells or cell products to optimise yields

Element:

6. Preserve cells and tissues

Performance Criteria:

6.1 Select the appropriate preservation method 6.2 Preserve the cell lines or tissue in accordance with the method
6.3 Check preserved cell lines regularly to ensure viability is maintained

Element:

7. Maintain records

Performance Criteria:

7.1 Maintain records of batches of media and test data
7.2 Maintain records of active and stored tissue and cell lines
7.3 Ensure records are retrievable, legible and accurate
7.4 Ensure records conform to the information management, records, quality system and legal requirements

Learning Outcomes


Refer to elements


Details of Learning Activities

  • Teacher directed delivery of lessons
  • Class discussion
  • Worksheets 
  • Laboratory experiments 
  • Record keeping of experiments 
  • Research activities
  • group work


Teaching Schedule

         
Week Date 2020 Lab/Practical # Topic Assessment
1 6-Jul 1&2 Orientation AND Aseptic technique in the biohazard cabinet AT2: Logbook
2 13-Jul 3 Pipetting and transfer of fluids AT1 Practical Demonstration
AT2: Logbook
3 20-Jul 4 Preparation of tissue culture solutions and sterility testing AT1 Practical Demonstration
AT2: Logbook
4 27-Jul 5 Morphology of INT407 cell line AT1 Practical Demonstration
AT2: Logbook
5 3-Aug 6 Feeding INT407 cell line, Cancel Prac 6 if necessary (this procedure is repeated in Prac 8 onwards) AT1 Practical Demonstration
AT2: Logbook
6 10-Aug 7 Passaging INT407 cell line using a split ratio AT1 Practical Demonstration
AT2: Logbook
7 17-Aug   Log Book (S/NYS) AT2: Logbook
8 24-Aug 8 Cell counting using the manual method and automatic coulter (Group A) AT1 Practical Demonstration
AT2: Logbook
9 31-Aug 8 Cell counting using the manual method and automatic coulter (Group B) AT1 Practical Demonstration
AT2: Logbook
10 7-Sep 9 Morphology and passaging of Murine immune cells DC 2.4 (dentritic cells) AT1 Practical Demonstration
AT2: Logbook
11 14-Sep 10 Passaging Pancreatic Cancer PC3 cell line using a split ratio – INDIVIDUAL PRAC AT1 Practical Demonstration
AT2: Logbook
12 21-Sep   Seb away - fieldtrip - may or maynot occur  
13 28-Sep 11&12 Passaging a cell line using cell density AND Cell preservation, storage and recovery AT1 Practical Demonstration
AT2: Logbook
14 5-Oct 13 EXAM Passaging INT407 cell line using a split ratio AT1 Practical Demonstration
AT3: Practical Exam
15 12-Oct   Log Book (S/NYS) AT2: Logbook
16 19-Oct   LogBook resubmission AT2: Logbook
17 26-Oct   Alternate assessments  
(special consideration only)  


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

Assessment may include 

Logbook- recording and analysis of laboratory results
Observation of laboratory tasks
online quizzes
written reports


Assessment Tasks

This course features 4 assessments conducted in class and online in Semester 1:

  • Assessment Task 1: Laboratory Activities (competent/not yet competent)
  • Assessment Task 2.1: Log book Prac 1 to 8 (competent/not yet competent)
  • Assessment Task 2.2: Log book Prac 9 to 13 (competent/not yet competent)
  • Assessment Task 3: Practical Exam (competent/not yet competent)


Assessment Matrix

Other Information

Assessment information:

This course is graded in accordance with competency-based assessment

CA Competency Achieved  
NYC Not Yet Competent
DNS Did Not Submit for assessment

Submission of Assessment Tasks

It is expected that any work presented for assessment in this course will be your own. Plagiarism is the presentation of the work, idea or creation of another person as though it is your own. It is a form of cheating and is a very serious academic offence that may lead to expulsion from the University. Plagiarised material can be drawn from, and presented in, written, graphic and visual form, including electronic data and oral presentation. Plagiarism occurs when the origin of the material used is not appropriately cited. It also occurs through enabling plagiarism, which is the act of assisting or allowing another person to plagiarise or to copy your own work. Please make sure you consider this carefully in completing all your work and assessments in this course and if you are unsure about whether you might have plagiarised, seek help from your teacher.

Extensions of time for submission of assessable work

If you are prevented from submitting an assessment on time by circumstances outside your control you may apply for an extension of up to seven (7) calendar days by filling in the application form at least one working day BEFORE the due date. The application form should be emailed to your Program Coordinator,     Kirsten Balding    kirsten.balding@rmit.edu.au
Eligibility criteria for application and the form is available from the link: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/extensions-of-time-for-submission-of-assessable-work

If you require an extension of time longer than 7 days, you must apply for Special Consideration.

Late work that is submitted without an application for an extension will not be corrected.

Special consideration

If you are unable to sit a test, exam or lab-based assessments due to unexpected circumstances (e.g., illness), you should apply for Special Consideration for the missed assessment. Information on applying for Special Consideration can be found from the link: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/special-consideration. Applications for Special Consideration should NOT be submitted to the course or program coordinator.

 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview