BY: MARTIN WHITE

Utilization of
UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO
HeLa cells:
SWOT
Strengths
W
O
T
Creative possibilities:

 Within a week, a number of different experiments can be performed

in a myriad of different ways.
 As an example, within this week we created HeLa cells from/with:
Recovery (a state in which there are too many HeLa cells so they
prevent themselves from growing),100µm FAD, 10µm FAD, and
control groups.
 Disclaimer: While they have yet to prove useful, they can still be
created.
Quick and efficient results:

 As mentioned previously, many of these experiments can be

performed in under a week.
 So this allows for faster results, more accurate charts, and has insane
replicability.
 Disclaimer: This applies to how it stands now, and may require more
time when performing the viral transfections (or CRISPR).
Easy to manage/Huge room for
error:
 While it is a delicate procedure, at the same time cancer cells are
being used. Due to their resilience, there are more opportunities to
how procedures can be made.
 Examples within the laboratory: the temperature of trypsin (colder
temperatures are detrimental to cells), the amount of time trypsin
can be used (trypsin’s toxicity is normally detrimental to common
cells so a certain amount of time is absolutely necessary, but in this
case can be adjusted), amount of time in the centrifuge (within
most cells this can be quite stressful), and time left without medium
when working with multiple samples (when exposed to the air,
without nutrients, they can undergo stress).
 Disclaimer: While the HeLa cells have a much higher stress threshold,
by no means are they being constantly tested when performing
regular experiments. All proper precautions are constantly used.
The cells replenish themselves:

 This can be broken down into cost efficiency and ease.

 HeLa cells replicate quite rapidly and from very little cells to begin
with. So, we can take roughly 1mL from unused HeLa cells and enter
them into storage.
 Overtime, we can have a completely stock within roughly a month
and never run out of the cells themselves.
Model organism:

 HeLa cells are a model organism. Meaning, HeLa cells have a

wealth of diligent research already performed, allowing a wealth of
information in any regard to be researched if deemed necessary.
S
Weaknesses
O
T
Requires constant upkeep:

 The cells require constant passaging, washing, the correct amount

of CO2, perfect ratios of medium for best results, etc.
 Due to the speed, the cells have to constantly watched for growth
rate and any rapid changes.
They are living organisms:

 HeLa cells are living organisms and can mutate and change if the
environment radically changes. So, there are only certain
techniques that can be used (of which must be heavily researched)
in order to continue with the experiment.
 Example: Previously, the idea of utilizing bolts and magnets was
offered, but for many reasons (chemical reactions, unknown
chemical/biological reactions, and efficiency) the technique could
not be utilized.
 Disclaimer: While they do mutate, they do tend to be quite
consistent but this merely points out the possibility of it versus the
occurrence.
S
W
Opportunities
T
Exploration of overexpression:

 Within this project, it can be included to overexpress the CRY1,

CRY2, and (more recently) CRY4.
S
W
O
Threats
Budget:

 Ultimately I think there is a lot that we want to do (viral transfections,

CRISPR, etc), however that is entirely dependent on how savvy we
can be at times. However, this experiment requires biological
components versus mechanical which prove to be more difficult to
obtain and use.