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Rules and Race conditions for the 2011 edition were:
(Check back here regularly while we update the 2012 Rules)
CONTESTANTS
Any laboratory may participate.
Don’t hesitate to send unusual cell types.
Genetic modifications are allowed and even encouraged.
Each laboratory may enter only a single cell type.
The only exception to this rule is in case of a mutant cell line, for which both the mutant and the wild type cell line must be sent in.
For this first edition, running tracks are provided in fibronectin. Therefore, cells should be adherent to fibronectin.
Pay attention not to send cells contaminated with viruses (particularly if you send primary cells), mycoplasma or other bacterial or fungal agent.
Cells must be frozen and shipped in dry ice to the selected “Running Site”
Cell shipping is at the expense of the participants.
A complete description of cell type and genetic modification (if applicable) must accompany all shipments.
A maximum of 30 cell lines can be handled at each Running Site.
Selection will be handled on a first come first serve basis. However, we will pay attention not to repeat measurements on HeLa, NIH3T3 or other popular cell types.
IMPORTANT DATES
Cells must be sent between the 1st and the 30st of June 2011 (extended to July 31) with necessary information (see “Join the Race” page). Videos will be recorded in July and August by the organizing teams. Videos will be analyzed and compared in September. The movies will be projected and the prizes will be given during a special session of the annual meeting of the American Society of Cell Biology in December in Denver.
RACE CONDITIONS
All cell contestants will be thawed and cultured in DMEM supplemented with 10% foetal calf serum as well as penicillin (100 IU) and streptomycin (100 µg/mL). Cells will recover from thawing for one week. DMEM will also be used during the race. For obvious practical reasons no other cell culture medium will be used.
No chemical product will be added to the culture medium during the culture or the race.
Cells will be detached (trypsinized) and plated in a well with fibronectin coated tracks and let on the tracks overnight.
The race will start the next day. Cells will be video-recorded during 24h. Nine fields per well will be recorded using automated multi-position time-lapse acquisition through a 10X objective. Cell shape will be visualized using transmitted light in phase contrast. Cells nuclei will also be stained by adding Hoechst 33342 in the medium. Nuclei will be imaged by fluorescence imaging. Cells movements will be monitored by taking one picture every 10 minutes
CELL SPEED MEASUREMENT
Cell motion and speed will be automatically quantified using automated detection and tracking of nucleus staining. Movements of all cells in the nine fields will be monitored. Cell nucleus (and not cell leading edge for example) will be considered as the reference point.
The final speed that will be registered will correspond to the most rapid cell in each well covering the official distance of 100 µm.
PRIZES
Awards for the 3 winners include Nikon digital cameras. Models are not known at this time.
All prizes are not known at this time.