Incubators are those devices which are widely used, to grow
and maintain cell cultures. Its first and foremost function is to maintain
optimal temperature, humidity and other conditions such as carbon dioxide and
oxygen content of the atmosphere inside. There are three main types of
materials which are used or is necessary to manufacture an incubator. The first
is stainless steel sheet metal of a common grade (0.02 to 0.04 inch) thick and
is used to resist rust and corrosion. Other necessary components are nuts,
screws, insulation, fans, motors and other miscellaneous items. And this type
of material is electronics package, whose functioning depends on the usage of the
unit in consideration. It may have a simple on/off switch or can be programmed microprocessor
module to maintain different temperature levels.
Importance of Incubators
There are multiple uses of incubators in a scientific lab
·
It is commonly used to maintain a constant
temperature, and there can be other built in functions as well. But their
functionality’s not limited to this, as many of them can even control humidity
as well.
·
Incubators with shaking function, incorporate
movement to mix cultures.
·
Internal gas composition can be regulated by
using Gas Incubators.
·
Air circulation are used by some of the Incubators,
in order to ensure even distribution of temperature.
·
Incubators built for laboratories has an
in-built power source, to avoid experiment disruption due to power outages.
·
Tissue culture is done, which is a research
technique to extract tissue fragments of plants and animals, to monitor their
further growth, by putting them in incubator. For example, tissue culture has
enabled the researchers to know more about cancerous cells so that vaccines can
be developed for polio, influenza, measles and mumps.
·
It can also be used in genetic engineering, to
manipulate the genetic materials, in pursuit to create new organisms by
combining DNA’s of distinct sources. It has widely helped the researchers, to
make insulin and other biologically vital and important proteins. The
nutritional content of fruits and vegetables can also be increased by using
genetic engineering, which can greatly increase the resistivity of various
crops to avoid disease causing bacteria.
The incubators have provided a very basis or foundation for
today’s medical advances in cellular and molecular biology. While neonatal
incubators will always be required by the hospitals to monitor the new born
babies, just to save them from death due to premature deliveries, the
bio-technological industry remains one such place, where the actual and active
growth lies for this particular product. The Microbiological
Incubators which are growth chamber type, will always be needed to
control temperature and relative humidity with more precise settings, in order
to support microbiologists and researchers, as they investigate new ways or
methods to improve our health and well-being. Thus, Incubators being one such
product which will continue to evolve with the technological advancements, just
to support human race and other living beings safe and peaceful co-existence.