Incubator Shakers: Definition, Function & Applications in Cell Biology

Incubator shakers, as the name suggests, are incubators that can be set to shake at variable speeds. They are most often used in studies of cell biology.

Function

• Incubator shakers incubate cell cultures by providing stable temperature conditions under which the cells can grow. Inside the incubator shaker is a tray that moves in a circular motion, onto which the cell cultures are placed. This orbital agitation is used to affect the growth of the cell cultures.

Time Frame

• Incubator shakers are used for cell culturing, cell aeration and solubility studies. They provide uniform controlled conditions, similar to those the cell cultures would experience in the organism they came from, so the cells can grow.

Purpose

• The agitation provided by the incubator shaker affects the aeration and the mixing of the cell culture. By moving the cell culture, mixing is increased and oxygen molecules are brought into contact with the cells more often. This increased aeration increases the rate of cell growth. Cells therefore grow faster in an incubator shaker.