Integrating mammalian cell culture into undergraduate biology education: benefits, challenges, and innovative strategies

Mammalian cell culture has become fundamental in biological and biomedical research, enabling discoveries in virology, cancer biology, pharmacology, and biotechnology. Despite its importance, undergraduate biology curricula often lack practical mammalian cell culture experiences due to logistical, financial, and safety constraints. Early exposure to cell culture fosters students’ problem-solving capabilities, critical thinking, and science identity, making them better prepared for future careers or advanced research training. This review identifies educational benefits gained from integrating mammalian cell culture into undergraduate curricula. The significant barriers to implementation, such as sterile environment requirements, high costs, time constraints, contamination risks, and ethical considerations, are acknowledged. Various effective strategies to overcome these challenges are explored, including short inquiry-based laboratory modules and course-based undergraduate research experiences. Special attention is given to innovative approaches like blended learning modules, primary cell culture experiments, gene expression analyses, and virtual laboratory simulations, which have proven effective even under challenging conditions such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This review also provides a comprehensive overview of how mammalian cell culture can be feasibly and effectively incorporated into undergraduate education. It aims to bridge the gap between theoretical instruction and practical application in biological education, preparing a generation of students who are proficient experimentalists capable of advancing scientific discovery and innovation.