LA Biotech Center: Intro to Cell Biology Recently Updated

Explore cell biology hands-on at the LA BioTech Center! In this entry-level program, students study mammalian cells and tissues, including breast cancer cells, while learning essential lab techniques like pipetting, microscopy, and bioassays. Each day focuses on a different aspect of cell structure, function, and applied research, guided by professional scientist mentors.

The LA BioTech Center’s Intro to Cell Biology program gives students an immersive, hands-on experience in a professional biotech research laboratory. This entry-level course explores essential concepts of cell biology through the study of mammalian cells and tissues, including breast cancer cells, providing real-world knowledge beyond traditional classrooms.

Taught by professional scientists who serve as mentors, the program offers daily focused topics:

Day 1: Molecular composition of cells and core lab skills, including pipetting, bioassays, and microscopy.

Day 2: Cellular structure, covering membranes, cytoplasm, cytoskeleton, nucleus, ER/Golgi, mitochondria, and vesicles.

Day 3: Organization in multicellular structures and stem cell origins.

Day 4: Shared cellular properties, such as physiology, attachment, migration, apoptosis, division, communication, and differentiation.

Day 5: Cellular diseases and applied cell biology, including research, disease modeling, and biotechnology applications.

This program is designed to be accessible to students of all science backgrounds, offering hands-on lab experience and insights into real-world cell biology that cannot be gained through school or non-lab extracurricular programs.

Eligible students are accepted on a first-come-first-served rolling basis up to 1 week before the course start date.