• Question: How do you grow cells from the brain?

    Asked by Carys_S to Matt on 13 Jun 2016. This question was also asked by toby.
    • Photo: Matt Dunn

      Matt Dunn answered on 13 Jun 2016:

      Hi Carys_S and 494cesf28,

      I basically try to make an environment which is as close to the environment that the cells usually experience. For example, I use a liquid called ‘media’, which has the same pH, salts, sugars, proteins and nutrients that the cells would normally need. The cells are then stored in this media at 38 degrees, a similar temperature to the body, and this media is replaced every few days, as the cells use up the nutrients and fresh nutrients are needed.

      With brain cells its the same, I simply extract cells from the brain and then add the correct number (usually millions) of them to the correct cell media, and then they take a few weeks to grow to the size I need.

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