C-Fern Logo  C-Fern
C O N T E N T S
C-Fern Home
Web Manual
  Introduction
  C-Fern Nutrient Medium
  Culture Conditions
  Gametophyte Culture
  Gametophyte Observations
  Sporophyte Culture
  Spore Mutagenesis
  Bibliography

Other Resources

  Light Stand
  Growth Pod
  DNA Extraction
  C-Fern T-shirt
  Who's Who
  Selection and mutants
  Media formulation error
  Image gallery
Web Journal
Educational Resources
  National Science Standards
  Gametophyte development
  Student research questions
  Research in the classroom
  Research with C-Fern
  Brief description of C-Fern
  C-Fern manipulation
  Root tropism?
Frequently Asked Questions
Workshop and Exhibit Schedule
 Educational Materials
  Investigations
  Mutant & wild type spores
  Manual & Culture Instructions
  Supplies - Domes, media
Have questions?
Contact the C-Fern Project
cfern@utk.edu
 Supported, in part, by the National Science Foundation - Division of Undergraduate Education
Development of C-Fern is supported
by the National Science Foundation (NSF-DUE)
Copyright © 1997-2000
Thomas R. Warne and
Leslie G. Hickok.
All rights reserved.
Teaching With C-Fern

Equipment

L a b  C o r e
Description of the Model System
Equipment Requirements
Sources for Spores & Culturing Supplies
Research in the Classroom
Research Questions
C-Fern Technical Assistance
L a b  L i n k
Background Web Links
Adopter Links
Research Links
On-Line Poster Presentations
Discussion Board
Equipment, materials and supplies necessary for using C-Fern in the classroom depends on whether a kit-based investigation is used

C-Fern Kits (except the Meet the C-Fern Kit) are designed for classroom use by 30 students working individually or in groups, depending upon the exercise used. All kits come complete with spores (pre-sterilized and pre-weighed), petri dishes, pre-made C-Fern media, sterile water, sterile pipet(s), sterile spore spreader(s) and detailed directions for students and instructors. As needed, Kits include additional materials such as Culture Dome(s) or C-Fern Growth Pods, toothpicks, marking pen(s), microscope slides and coverslips, rulers, and foil bags. A hot water bath is needed to melt the nutrient agar prior to pouring into petri dishes and a stereomicroscope and/or compound microscope is necessary for viewing the developmental stages.For predictable C-Fern gametophyte development, cultures should be grown under continuous adequate lighting (provided by a simple 40W fluorescent lighting fixture) and at an internal Growth Pod or Culture Dome temperature of about 28 C.

For independent investigations the following materials and supplies may be necessary.

Media Preparation(per liter of prepared medium)

  • inorganic salts for Basic C-Fern Nutrient Media OR pre-packaged OR prepared Basic C-Fern Medium
  • If using inorganic salts, supplies for weighing and preparing stock solutions (see Basic C-Fern Medium recipe)
  • 1 liter volumetric flask
  • 2 liter erlenmeyer
  • volumetric measuring glassware (pipets, graduated cylinders)
  • distilled, deionized water
  • agar (Bacto-agar)
  • pH meter and supplied for measuring and titrating pH
  • autoclave or pressure cooker
  • petri dishes
  • laminar flow hood, sterile bench or equivalent

C-Fern Culture

  • C-Fern spores: pre-sterilized or bulk, unsterilized
  • If unsterilized spores, supplies for spore sterilization (see)
  • sterile graduated conical tube
  • sterile transfer pipet
  • sterile distilled water
  • petri dishes with Basic C-Fern Nutrient Medium
  • sterile spore spreader
  • marking pen
  • Growth Pod or Culture Dome
  • adequate lighting setup with internal Growth Pod or Culture Dome temperature of 28C
  • thermometer (recommended)

C-Fern Observation

  • stereomicroscope and/or compound microscope
  • probes
  • microscope slides and coverslips
  • sterile distilled water

C-Fern Educational Materials are available through Carolina Biological Supply Company, P.O. Box 6010. Burlington, NC 27216-6010 at 1-800-334-5551. For Technical Support, questions about products or their use contact 1-800-227-1150.