• Question: ¿ Do you like experimenting with cells ?

    Asked by ines and júlia to Matt on 14 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Matt Bilton

      Matt Bilton answered on 14 Nov 2014:


      Let us consider an alternative.

      Instead of experimenting with cells, I could do research using live animals. For example, mice.

      Whilst there is much that we can learn about the immune system through using cells, mice possess an ENTIRE immune system that is very similar to our own.

      Using cells, I can prove that a type of cell can be activated in a test tube, responding to a bacteria or virus. I can see what this response is; how their behaviour changes, and I can compare this behaviour change to what we already know about the immune system. I can suggest that MAYBE the cells are important, because they respond in a certain way.

      But it is very difficult to PROVE that this response is actually *important* in a real, live, person.

      On the other hand, someone using a live mouse can show that the same cell can SAVE the mouse from bacteria or a virus. If you remove the cells from one type of mouse, but leave them in another – you can compare how sick the two mice get after they’re infected. If one lives, and one dies, the cells didn’t just respond, they were IMPORTANT. If both mice survive just fine, even without the cells, then they were not.

      I cannot easily show how important cells are by experimenting with cells alone.

      However, there is another important difference between using a mouse and using cells. Using a living animal is a big deal. You have to be sure – is this experiment necessary? With cells, I can do as many experiments as I want – it doesn’t matter. Cells are living- but they’re very simple. They don’t feel pain, or fear. If my cells die and I learn nothing, it doesn’t matter.

      Another consideration is if I treat a mouse with a drug – which cell is the drug affecting? Is it just one cell type, or many? Mice are complex.

      But if I am working with cells, and treat only ONE cell type with a drug – then I know for sure that the drug affects THAT cell.

      For these reasons, I do like working with cells. I can do lots of experiments, and I can ask simple questions with simple answers. On the other hand there are some important questions I am unable to ask using cells alone.

      Ultimately, science requires lots of people all asking slightly different questions in order to build up a big picture. I like the questions I am asking, so yes! I like experimenting with cells.

Comments