Just Keepin it Going

So, I didn't really make any progress last week(week of March 13) due to a college interview in Florida, but I did successfully cultivate more cancer cell spheroids. These have grown as normal, and we are tracking their growth as their size increases. Again, the SeaHorse project, which measures metabolic processes, is delayed, because of TGen schedules, but is scheduled to begin next week. As the SeaHorse project begins, I will give more detailed updates as to how it works.

Steps in the Right Direction

For the first time last week, I have developed spheroids on my own. Now, we are going to measure their size changes over time. This is also a difficult process, involving a process called ImageJ, which I will need to learn separately. Analysis of spheroids is the purpose of this project, and Dr. Noel is showing me new ways in which to analyze them. Size analysis is considered an experiment of its own, because we are retrieving data we never found before. The use of the SeaHorse machine, which measures metabolic processes of these cells, is currently delayed because of scheduling issues here at TGen, but will be done shortly. Cell maintenance (e.g. splitting) is continuing as normal. So far, the project as a whole is making good progress and I will see what direction it takes as it develops in the future.

Progress...well sort of

Normal progress this week was stifled because of my own errors. I was supposed to create new spheroids on the past Monday, but I over-diluted my cells, meaning I had to wait until this Thursday to create the new spheroids. During the week, I pictured the old cells, and watched them grow. Over time, the cells have grown into more of a sphere shape, as they should. I will learn how to take the length measurements of them soon. As mentioned in the previous post, drug experimentation will take place later. For now, the focus is on developing new spheroids succesfully.