Review of Cell Flasks

Despite overall loss of cells, one of my P4 flasks which had a good level of cell growth previously still has a strong number of cells.  It also shows ‘ghost trails’ over a prolonged period of culture without passage. The flask was originally plated out at P3 on 7/10/21 passaged on 9/11/21 with remaining cells maintained every week.

P3 Cell Flask Image of PHGL Tumour Baby cells Flask with original plating date (P 3, 07/10/21) and passage date (P4, 09/11/21) recorded. 

Images taken 15/12/21:

PHGL TB P3 at 15/12/21Light microscope image of PHGL Tumour Baby P3 in T75 flask [Org plated 07/10/21] imaged on 15/12/21.

PHGL TB P3 at 15/12/21

Images taken 13/1/22:

Tumour Baby P3 - 13/01/22

Tumour Baby P3 - 13/01/22

Tumour Baby P3 - 13/01/22Light microscope images of PHGL Tumour Baby P4 in T75 flask [Org P3 plated 07/10/21 – passaged P4 on 9/11/21] imaged on 13/1/22 after cell maintenance. 

I maintained the cells (media change) on 13/1/22 and will allow them to grow for another week before I passage them and set up new experiments with cut glass and Petri dishes.


Prior to leaving for the festive season, I passaged my more confluent culture plates to establish fresh T75 flasks.

Flask #1

Tumour Baby P5 Flask 15/12/21Photograph of PHGL Tumour Baby P5 in T75 flask plated on 15/12/21 prior to holidays. 

Images taken 16/12/21:

Tumour Baby P5 16/12/21

Tumour Baby P5 16/12/21Light microscope image of PHGL Tumour Baby P5 in T75 flask plated on 15/12/21.

Images taken 13/1/22:

Tumour Baby P5 13/1/22

Tumour Baby P5 13/1/22Light microscope images of PHGL Tumour Baby P5 in T75 flask plated on 15/12/21 and imaged on 13/1/22. 

Flask #2

Tumour Baby P5 Flask 2 15/12/21Photograph of PHGL Tumour Baby P5 in T75 flask #2 plated on 15/12/21.

Images taken 16/12/21:

Tumour Baby Flask 2 P5 16/12/21Light microscope image of PHGL Tumour Baby P5 in T75 flask 2 plated on 15/12/21.

Tumour Baby Flask 2 P5 16/12/21Light microscope image of PHGL Tumour Baby P5 in T75 flask 2 plated on 15/12/21.

Images taken 13/1/22:

Tumour Baby Flask 2 P5 13/1/22

Tumour Baby Flask 2 P5 13/1/22Light microscope image of PHGL Tumour Baby P5 in T75 flask 2 imaged on 13/1/22.

In both flasks here is some cell growth present. However, much less than expected. This may be due to my very low seeding ratio which was deliberate to avoid over-confluence during my absence. I changed the media for both flasks on 13/1/22 and will continue to maintain them to see if there is any further growth.

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