APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR QUANTIFICATION OF REPLICATIVE LIFESPAN AND OBSERVATION OF SENESCENE

摘要

The present invention teaches an apparatus and method for the automated study of senescence of cells. The apparatus includes a plurality of plates, customized with a flow-through hole, arranged on a platform. A microscope with integrated camera is positioned above the platform and both microscope and platform are coupled to a rotation mechanism to allow relative rotation between the platform and the microscope. Cells are anchored magnetically, chemically, or electrostatically to the plates and are treated to a controlled environment. Daughter cells born from the mother cell are observed by the microscope and then washed, using a wash fluid, through the flow-through hole in the plate. A processor automates the process and allows for a user to input customizable test parameters and value thresholds to indicate a test is completed. The processor also organises test data in the form of a spreadsheet for simple modelling and data manipulation.