Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 23, 2026
Continuous High-resolution Microscopic Observation of Replicative Aging in Budding Yeast
Published on: August 20, 2013
Microfluidic technologies for yeast replicative lifespan studies
Kenneth L Chen1, Matthew M Crane2, Matt Kaeberlein2
1Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Abstract:
The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been used as a model organism for the study of aging for over 50 years. In this time, the canonical aging experiment-replicative lifespan analysis by manual microdissection-has remained essentially unchanged. Recently, microfluidic technologies have been developed that may be able to substitute for this time- and labor-intensive procedure. These technologies also allow cell physiology to be observed throughout the entire lifetime. Here, we review these devices, novel observations they have made possible, and some of the current system limitations.
