Course Title: Perform tissue and cell culture techniques

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2023

Course Code: BIOL5255C

Course Title: Perform tissue and cell culture techniques

Important Information:

Please note that this course may have compulsory in-person attendance requirements for some teaching activities.  

To participate in any RMIT course in-person activities or assessment, you will need to comply with RMIT vaccination requirements which are applicable during the duration of the course. This RMIT requirement includes being vaccinated against COVID-19 or holding a valid medical exemption.  

Please read this RMIT Enrolment Procedure as it has important information regarding COVID vaccination and your study at RMIT: https://policies.rmit.edu.au/document/view.php?id=209.  

Please read the Student website for additional requirements of in-person attendance: https://www.rmit.edu.au/covid/coming-to-campus  

  

Please check your Canvas course shell closer to when the course starts to see if this course requires mandatory in-person attendance. The delivery method of the course might have to change quickly in response to changes in the local state/national directive regarding in-person course attendance.  

School: 535T Social Care and Health

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5388 - Diploma of Laboratory Technology

Course Contact: Rauha Quazi

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4277

Course Contact Email: rauha.quazi@rmit.edu.au

Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Amberlee Mitton

amber.mitton@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	Week beginning	Theory (2 hours)	Lab  (3 hours Tuesday)	Assessment
1	10/07/2023	1- Mammalian Tissue Culture & Course overview, assessments and prac discussion	Lab 1 -The Tissue Culture lab & Lab 2 - Aseptic technique in the biohazard cabinet & Lab 3 - Pipetting and transfer of fluids	AT2: Knowledge Questions* Questions to be completed and uploaded over the Semester – Refer to canvas
2	17/07/2023	2 - Cell Biology & AT2 Discussion & questions     Prac tute – L-929 cells and morphology tables and image annotation	Lab 4 - Morphology of L-929 cell line. Learning how to take an image of the cells   Morphology tables from Prac 5 to be assessed and feedback given (this is not being formally assessed, this feedback is so you have the skills for Prac 6 next week.	AT1 Lab skills* assessed most weeks. Refer to checklist
3	24/07/2023	3 - Culture environment & AT2 Discussion & questions   Prac tute – Media and ethics	Lab 5 - Preparation of tissue culture solutions and sterility testing       ,
4	31/07/2023	4 - The biology of cultured cells & AT2 Discussion & questions   Prac tute – Split ratios	Lab 6 - Feeding a cell line   *Collecting Lab 5 results   Logbook review	Upload signed and assessed Lab 5 logbook
5	07/08/2023	5 - Cell types & AT2 Discussion & questions	Lab 7 - Passaging L-929 using a split ratio    (Individual prac) 8 students (1.5 hours per student)	Upload signed and assessed Lab 7 logbook 2 x annotated images
6	14/08/2023	6 - Cell growth & AT2 Discussion & questions	Lab 7 - Passaging cell line L-929 using a split ratio   (Individual prac) 8 students (1.5 hours per student)	Upload signed and assessed Lab 7 logbook 2 x annotated images
7	21/08/2023	Costing exercise	Lab 8 Passaging cell line PC-3 using a split ratio	Upload signed and assessed Lab 8 logbook 2 x annotated images Costing exercise
	28/08/2023		Student break
8	04/09/2023	7 – Cell counts & AT2 Discussion & questions   Prac tute –feedback	Lab 9 Passaging cell line MDBK using a split ratio	Upload signed and assessed Lab 8 logbook 2 x annotated images
9	11/09/2023	8 – Contamination & AT2 Discussion & questions	Lab 10a Cell preservation & storage   *Cryopreservation demonstration & hazard discussion
10	18/09/2023	9 -  Cell preservation, storage and recovery	Lab 10b Cell preservation, storage and recovery viability assessment - Thawing and culture
11	25/09/2023	10 – Substrates	Lab 10c Cell preservation, storage and recovery viability assessment - Automatic cell count on preserved cells	Upload signed and assessed Lab 10 logbook
12	02/10/2023	11 – Monitoring growth and sustainability	Skills assessment - Passaging L-929 cell line using a split ratio – Group 1	AT3: Practical assessment
13	09/10/2023	Drop in session	Skills assessment - Passaging L-929 cell line using a split ratio Group 2   Group 1 – Collect results	AT3: Practical assessment Upload signed and assessed AT3 Appendix
14	16/10/2023	AT2 feedback and resubmissions	Skills assessment results collection   Group 2	AT3: Practical assessment Upload signed and assessed AT3 Appendix
15	23/10/2023	Review of logbook submissions and feedback	Lab 11 Contamination observations	Upload signed and assessed Lab 11 logbook 2 x annotated images
16	30/10/2023	AT1 & AT2 feedback and resubmissions	Lab 12 Cell counting using the manual method and automatic coulter	Upload signed and assessed Lab 12 logbook Media log Equipment log Tissue Culture log Observational checklist *Records that haven’t been signed will not be accepted
17	06/11/2023	Finalising assessments	Alternate assessments (special consideration)

 

*Subject to change

Missed labs require evidence or special consideration

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 3 assessments conducted in class and online:

• Assessment Task 1: Practical lab skills and record keeping  (competent/not yet competent)
• Assessment Task 2: Lab analysis questions and knowledge questions  (competent/not yet competent)
• Assessment Task 3: Practical Exam (competent/not yet competent)

Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant unit of competency. These mapping documents are available through Program Administration if required.

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

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.

Attendance:

Your learning experience will involve class-based teaching, discussion, demonstration and practical exercises It is strongly advised that you attend all timetabled sessions. This will allow you to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring you the maximum opportunity to complete this course successfully. If you are sick you should submit a medical certificate to the program coordinator and course coordinator/teacher. If you miss an assessable practical class you need to provide a medical certificate (or other evidence), if you miss a practical class that is a practical report write-up you need to arrange an alternative report with your teacher. Information about your studies: You can access My Studies through the RMIT website for information about timetables, important dates, assessment dates, results and progress, Canvas etc. https://www.rmit.edu.au/students

Assessment tasks: Decision making rules Every task must be completed satisfactorily for competence to be achieved. Resubmissions are at the discretion of the teacher and/or coordinator.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview