Course Title: Perform tissue and cell culture techniques

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2009

Course Code: ONPS5209C

Course Title: Perform tissue and cell culture techniques

School: 155T Vocational Health and Sciences

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5183 - Diploma of Laboratory Technology (Biotechnology)

Course Contact: Dinah van Ruyven

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4287

Course Contact Email: dinah.vanruyven@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Geraldene Fleishman

+61 3 9925 8053

geraldene.fleishman@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

PMLTEST407A - Perform biological procedures
PMLTEST412A - Prepare tissue and cell cultures.

Course Description

This unit of competency covers the ability 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:

PMLTEST517A Perform tissue and cell culture techniques

Element:

Assemble and maintain tissue culture equipment

Performance Criteria:

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

Element:

Interpret and schedule production requirements

Performance Criteria:

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

Element:

Maintain records

Performance Criteria:

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

Element:

Obtain, monitor and maintain tissue and cell lines

Performance Criteria:

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

Element:

Prepare and test cell and tissue culture media

Performance Criteria:

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

Element:

Preserve cells and tissues

Performance Criteria:

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

Element:

Work safely according to the legal and regulatory framework

Performance Criteria:

Ensure work practices and personal actions conform to regulations, codes, guidelines and enterprise quality assurance procedures 
Identify hazards and enterprise control measures associated with the sample, preparation methods, reagents and equipment
Select, fit and use personal protective clothing and safety equipment
Address hazards and incidents as they arise
Ensure the safe disposal of biohazardous materials and other laboratory wastes


Learning Outcomes



Details of Learning Activities

Learning activities for this course will include

Teacher directed delivery of lessons
Whole class discussion
Pair/group discussion and self assessment
Worksheets
Laboratory experiments
Record keeping of experiments
Research activities


Teaching Schedule

WEEKLY SCHEDULE
WEEK THEORY PRACTICAL/SELF LEARNING
1 Introduction to plant tissue culture and plant physiology  
2 Tissue Culture environment Practical One: Brassica Rapa seeds transfer
3 Contamination and Growth hormones Practical Two: plant propagation
4 Micropropagation, Organogenesis, and Somatic Embryogenesis Library
5 Cell culture types part two  
6 Transgenic plant production Protoplast production
7 Revision  
8 Exams  
9 The big six  
10 Practical assessment  
11 vacation  
12 talks  
13 in vitro fertilization  site visit
14 hybridoma technology  
15 stem cell research talks
16 Revision  
17 exams  
18 additional assessment  
19 vacation  


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

There is no formal text however students will be referred to several key texts and websites during the course


Overview of Assessment

Assessments for this course typically consist of:
• Class activities
• Assignments
• Presentations
• Exam


Assessment Tasks

Details will be provided in class


Assessment Matrix

Other Information

Outdoor clothing and bags must be left in the areas provided
Laboratory coats must be worn in the laboratory at all times
Long hair must be tied back
Suitable covered footwear must be worn in the laboratory at all times
Correct gloves for the task should be worn at any time when handling substances
Dispose of specialized wastes in containers reserved for the particular type of waste
All accidents and incidents must be reported to the demonstrator
At the end of the session, return all apparatus and reagents to the appropriate places
Ensure that all materials to be disposed of are done according to instructions
Before leaving the laboratory always wash your hands with soap and water
There is to be no eating, drinking or speaking on mobile phones during class

Course Overview: Access Course Overview