Physics News 2:
When we learned about Brownian motion and the physics behind it, this obscure term and
phenomenon that had been a mystery for a while to me now started to make sense.
phenomenon that had been a mystery for a while to me now started to make sense.
Brownian motion occurs when small objects are floating in water or a water-based solution. If these
objects are small enough, you can observe them interacting with the water molecules under a
microscope in a zigzag like motion.
objects are small enough, you can observe them interacting with the water molecules under a
microscope in a zigzag like motion.
When you work in cell biology and cell culture, you have to become acquainted with
Brownian motion. If you look under a microscope, non-adhered objects (floating objects,
cell debris etc) will appear to be moving. Some might mistakenly get worried and consider
these moving objects alive; ie contamination into the cell culture flask. However, any
experienced-eye will be able to recognize this motion as Brownian motion. On the other
hand, one way to tell that the cells are indeed contaminated with bacteria or other
contaminants, is to look for non-random directional motion in the cell culture flask.
Such directional motion (for example moving in a straight line) would then indicate the
presence of contamination.
Brownian motion. If you look under a microscope, non-adhered objects (floating objects,
cell debris etc) will appear to be moving. Some might mistakenly get worried and consider
these moving objects alive; ie contamination into the cell culture flask. However, any
experienced-eye will be able to recognize this motion as Brownian motion. On the other
hand, one way to tell that the cells are indeed contaminated with bacteria or other
contaminants, is to look for non-random directional motion in the cell culture flask.
Such directional motion (for example moving in a straight line) would then indicate the
presence of contamination.
Here is an example of Brownian motion vs motility in a cell culture flask:
Image source:
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