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𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄? 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗢₂ 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗼𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻 Many cell culture protocols include a value that seems clear at first glance: 5% CO₂. In laboratories, this value is often simply set on the incubator. For the CO₂-incubator, it is a clear setpoint. For the cells, however, something else matters: the CO₂ partial pressure. 𝗖𝗢₂ 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘃𝘀. 𝗖𝗢₂ 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲: 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗯𝘀 At sea level, 5% CO₂ by volume corresponds to a CO₂ partial pressure of roughly 50 millibars. This pressure is what matters, because CO₂ is part of the bicarbonate buffer system in the culture medium. This system helps keep the pH stable. For many mammalian cells, the target is around pH 7.4. As altitude increases, however, ambient pressure decreases. The air becomes thinner. As a result, 5% CO₂ no longer produces the same partial pressure as it does at sea level. A laboratory in Davos or Bogotá therefore has to assess the set CO₂ value differently than a laboratory in London. In La Paz, Bolivia, just under 8% CO₂ would theoretically be needed to reach a CO₂ partial pressure of about 50 millibars again. A seemingly simple percentage value therefore becomes a clear example of how closely cell culture and atmospheric physics are connected. 🔗 Find out more about our CO₂-incubators: https://lnkd.in/duZGn5Y6