Guide to cytology
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Gelatinous Cube says: "Why are they welding the vents, father? I didn't even eat that many of them." |
This is the guide to cytology, science of living cells. Understanding cytology will help you grow a whole ass animal from as little as a single cell.
Getting started
In order to grow a creature we need a sample of cells, a reagent mixture to grow the creature in and a special growing vat.
Hunting for cells
The first and most straightforward way of doing this is using your biopsy tool on a creature, if it is able to be cultivated, a green light on the tool will indicate you have collected a viable cell sample. The drawback of this is of course you have to obtain a living or dead specimen of the creature you want to create.
The second and perhaps more exciting method is using your sterile swabs to swab objects for cell samples. A successful swab will often yield a mixture of cell lines from different organisms.
Thanks to the excellent janitorial staff aboard the station, most objects are quite clean and thus unfit for this purpose. Fortunately enough, the grimy, cold and dank maintenance shafts provide the perfect environment to hunt for biological samples.
Try swabbing anything that looks gross. There is a good chance such objects are covered in precious biofilm, a thin coat of microorganisms as well as cells from various earth and space creatures.
When you swab a piece of maintenance filth and a splotch of biofilm collects on the swab, you know you have done it right, because this means you have a mixed cell sample, ready for cultivation in the lab.
What follows is a list of the broader categories of sample-rich filth and garbage you can find. Most of these spawn at the start of the round, so collect your samples early, lest the janitor scrub them clean!
| Sludge | Decomposing Garbage, Old Vomit, Old Rotting Gibs, Trash Carts |
|---|---|
| Moisture | Moisture Traps |
| Mold | Dirty Matresses, Moldy Bread, Moldy Pizza, Moldy Messes |
| Algae | Neglected fern (Rare chance to find in maintenance) |
Devising a culture medium
Once you have collected a sample, deposit it into a petri-dish.
Now we need to figure out what kind of cells we have, and how to grow them. To do just this our lab is equipped with a microscope.
When a dish is inserted into the microscope, it tells us what kind of cells we have and three lists of reagents for each cell type.
- Required reagents; we need all these reagents for the specimen to grow at all, it takes at least 10u of these to grow the specimen to completion, more if other cells compete for the same reagent.
- Complementary reagents; each of these helps the cell line grow, but are not strictly necessary, but you might want to add some of these if you have mixture of cells to ensure other cell lines does not outgrow your target cell lines.
- Suppressive reagents; these chemicals inhibit growth, or even kill off, this type of cells. You want to avoid contaminating your growing broth with reagents that suppress your target cell line, but they are very useful for suppressing undesired cell lines when growing a creature from a mixed sample.
Once you collect the reagents needed to grow your specimen we can move on to the next stage.
Growing your specimen
Use your research plumbing constructor to create (and wrench) a growing vat. This is a plumbing connectable machine which you can fill with your cultivation broth. To fill a growing vat with reagents you must connect it to a wrenched down input gate, and then fill the input gate with your mix of reagents. See the Guide to plumbing for details about how to use a plumbing constructor. Once you have filled the vat with your medium, simply take your petri-dish and pour in some of your cell sample into the vat. If the nutritional requirements of any of the cell lines are met, the cultivation medium should start to bubble.
After some time, if you got your cultivation medium right, your target organism should emerge from the growing vat. If you screwed up, you might receive the wrong type of creature, a bloody mess or nothing at all!
To empty a growing vat use a plunger on it.
How do I get chemicals I need?
It is worth noting that many of the reagents you need have to be liberated from the item that contains them by grinding. Since our vat is a plumbing machine, we can easily use the grinder, filter and tank plumbing machines to process and store our reagents.
Protein
Protein, a class of biopolymers made up of amino acids, is a vital component of most known forms of life. This reagent is needed to grow most mobs, and having a way to obtain it is important.
The main source of this reagent is meat, and if you just want to grow a few specimens, picking the kitchen counter clean might be enough. However if you undertake a larger scale research project, you may need to obtain a more reliable source.
Butchering animals and grinding the resultant meat slabs will yield some protein: 6u per slab. Butchering animals also provides you with liquid gibs and occasionally other useful products. Some good ways of obtaining animals include:
- Breeding mobs such as chickens, mice, cats or corgis.
- Monkey cubes (inject grey slime extracts with blood to get a lot of these)
If you have access to a biogenerator you can mass-produce tofu, which contains 2u of protein apiece. Grinding tofu results in pure protein, meaning that you don't have to separate the protein out with a ChemMaster like you would have to with meat, and you don't have to go through the chore of butchering and sifting through piles of protein-free organs. It can be useful to request access to hydroponics for this very reason.
Other reagents
This is the tricky part, the other reagents are produced from a variety of sources around the station.
Many products of the hydroponics lab contain reagents you want, so for things to go smoothly you might want to some connections with the botanists or relocate a plant tray to your lab.
What is the point of all this?
Currently, this mechanic serves as a way to create powerful creatures to treat with a sentience potion as well as a source of exotic meats. The feature is still in development and in the future, this technology could be used to create feed animals for other creatures, chimaeras or useful items.
Cell Line Tables
Animals/Vertebrates
| Cell Line | Creates | Growth Rate | Viral Susceptibility | Required Chemical | Supplementary Reagents | Suppressive Reagents | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murine Cells | Mouse (x2) | 4 | 2 | Protein | Growth Serum (+2) Liquid Gibs (+2) Corn Oil (+2) Nutriment (+1) Vitamin (+1) Sugar (+1) Cooking Oil (+1) Rice (+1) Egg Yolk (+1) |
Heparin (-6) Astrotame (-4) Rubberneck (-3) Grey Bull (-1) |
Mice, Dead Mice, Sludge, Mold |
| Galliform skin cells | Chicken | 4 | 1 | Protein | Rice (+4) Growth Serum (+3) Vitamin (+2) Egg Yolk (+1) |
Oil (-4) Toxin (-2) |
Chickens, Chicken Meat, Sludge |
| Bovine Stem Cells | Cow | 4 | 1 | Protein, Nutriment, Cellulose |
Growth Serum (+4) Vitamin (+2) Rice (+2) Flour (+1) |
Carpotoxin (-5) Toxin (-2) |
Cows, Beef, Sludge |
| Fairyland Bovine Stem Cells | Moonicorn | 4 | 1 | Protein, Nutriment, Mushroom Hallucinogen |
Growth Serum (+4) Tinea Luxor (+2) Vitfro (+2) Astrotame (+1) |
Toxin (-2) Carpotoxin (-5) Coffee (-3) Triple Citrus (-5) |
Moon Rock |
| Feliform Cells | Cat | 4 | 1.5 | Protein, Liquid Gibs |
Growth Serum (+3) Vitamin (+2) Oculine (+2) Milk (+1) |
Coco Powder (-4) Hot Coco (-2) Chocolate Pudding (-2) Chocolate Milk (-1) |
Cats, Mold |
| Canid Cells | Corgi | 4 | 1 | Protein,
Liquid Gibs |
Growth Serum (+3) Barbers Aid (+3) Vitamin (+2) |
Tear Juice (-3) Garlic (-2) Coco Powder (-2) |
Corgis, Corgi Meat, Mold |
| Squat Canid Cells | Pug | 4 | 3 | Protein, Liquid Gibs |
Vitamin (+3) Growth Serum (+2) |
Tear Juice (-3) Garlic (-2) Coco Powder (-2) |
Pugs, Pug Meat |
| Ursine Cells | Bear | 4 | 2 | Protein, Liquid Gibs, Synthflesh |
Honey (+8) Growth Serum (+5) Morphine (+4) Vitamin (+3) |
Condensed Capsaicin (-4) Carpotoxin (-2) Insulin (-2) |
Space Bears, Bear Meat, Mold |
| Cyprinid Cells | Space Carp | 4 | 2 | Protein, Nutriment |
Corn Oil (+4) Carpotoxin (+3) Cooking Oil (+2) Vitamin (+2) |
Bungotoxin (-6) Mercury (-4) Oxygen (-3) |
Space Carp, Carp Fillets, Carp Sashimi, Moisture |
| Cartilaginous Cyprinid Cells | Mega Space Carp (Space Shark) |
4 | 1 | Protein, Nutriment, Synthflesh |
Corn Oil (+4) Growth Serum (+3) Carpotoxin (+2) Cooking Oil (+2) Vitamin (+2) |
Bungotoxin (-6) Oxygen (-3) |
Mega Space Carp, Moisture |
| Ophidic Cells | Snake | 4 | ? | Protein, Liquid Gibs |
Growth Serum (+3) Peptides (+3) Egg Yolk (+2) Vitamin (+2) |
Corn Syrup (-6) Sulfur (-3) |
Snakes, Moisture, Algae |
| Blattodeoid Anthropod (sic) Cells | Cockroach (x5) | 4 | 0 | Protein | Organic Slurry (+4) Growth Serum (+2) Slime Jelly (+2) Vitamin (+1) |
Bug Spray (-4) Poisonberry Juice (-4) Pest Killer (-2) |
Cockroaches, Sludge, Moisture, Mold |
| Anura Amphibian Cells | Frog | 4 | 0.5 | Protein | Ants (+3) Egg White (+2) Vitamin (+1) |
Carpotoxin (-3) Bungotoxin (-3) Spore Toxin (-3) Plant-B-Gone (-2) Drying Agent (-2) Mold (-2) Toxin (-1) |
Frog, Algae |
| Caudata Amphibian Cells | Axolotl | 4 | 0.5 | Protein | Ants (+3) Liquid Gibs (+2) Egg White (+2) Salt (+1) Vitamin (+1) |
Drying Agent (-4) Ammonia (-3) Bungotoxin (-3) Spore Toxin (-3) Plant-B-Gone (-2) Mold (-2) Toxin (-1) |
Axolotl, Algae |
| Atypical Amphibian Cells | Leaper | 4 | ? | Protein, Ants, Egg Yolk, Synthflesh |
Growth Serum (+4) bLaSToFF (+3) Space Drugs (+2) Eggnog (+2) Vanilla Powder (2) Banana Juice (+1) Vitamin (+1) |
Cyanide (-5) Mold (-2) Spore Toxin (-1) |
Leaper, Leaper Sludge, Leaper Bubble, Algae |
| Aphid Cells | Queen Bee | 4 | 0 | Protein, Corn Syrup |
Honey (+4) Korta Nectar (+3) Red Queen (+3) Champagne (+2) Sugar Rush (+2) Sugar (+1) Lemonade (+1) Vitamin (+1) |
Carpotoxin (-3) Pest Killer (-2) Potato Juice (-2) Nicotine (-1) |
Bee, Queen Bee, Algae |
| Pseudoarachnoid Cells | Mega Arachnid | 4 | ? | Protein, Ants Omnizine |
Venom (+6) Kronkaine (+4) Peptides (+3) Squirt Cider (+2) Nutraslop (+2) Vitamin (+1) Plasma (+1) Organ Tissue (+1) Liquid Gibs (+1) Universal Enzyme (+1) |
Bug Spray (-3) Nicotine (-1) Pest Killer (-1) |
Mega Arachnid, Algae |
Slimes, Oozes & Blobs
| Cell Line | Creates | Growth Rate | Viral Susceptibility | Required Chemical | Supplementary Reagents | Suppressive Reagents | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slime Particles | Slime | 4 | 0 | Protein | Slime Jelly (+2) Liquid Gibs (+2) Universal Enzyme (+1) |
Frost Oil (-4) Cryostylane (-4) Morphine (-2) Ice (-2) |
Slimes, Sludge, Mold, Moisture |
| Immature Blob Spores | Blob Spore (x2) | 4 | 0 | Protein | Vitamin (+3) Liquid Gibs (+2) Sulfur (+2) |
Tinea Luxor (-6) Napalm (-4) |
Blob Spores, Former Blob-Infested Tiles, Mold |
| Blobular Myocytes | Blobbernaut | 4 | 0 | Protein, Synthflesh, Sulfur |
Growth Serum (+3) Vitamin (+2) Liquid Gibs (+2) Egg Yolk (+2) Shambler's Juice (+1) |
Tinea Luxor (-6) | Blobbernauts, Former Blob-Infested Tiles, Sludge |
| Cubic Ooze Particles | Gelatinous Cube | 4 | 0 | Protein, Slime Jelly, Organic Slurry, Universal Enzyme |
Hollow Water (+4) Corn Syrup (+3) Gold (+2) Peptides (+2) Potato Juice (+1) Liquid Gibs (+1) Vitamin (+1) |
Mint Toxin (-3) Frost Oil (-2) Ice (-1) |
Gelatinous Cubes, Moisture |
| Globular Ooze Particles | Sholean Grapes | 4 | 0 | Protein, Slime Jelly, Organic Slurry, Vitrium Froth |
Omnizine (+4) Peptides (+3) Corn Syrup (+2) Squirt Cider (+2) Doctor's Delight (+1) Saline-Glucose Solution (+1) Liquid Gibs (+1) Vitamin (+1) |
Carpotoxin (-3) Coffee Grounds (-2) Frost Oil (-2) Ice (-1) |
Sholean Grapes, Sludge |
Experimental Clowns
| Cell Line | Creates | Growth Rate | Viral Susceptibility | Required Chemical | Supplementary Reagents | Suppressive Reagents | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clown Bits with Banana Chunks | Clownana | 4 | 0? | Protein, Banana Juice |
Saltpetre (+4) Ammonia (+3) Carbon Dioxide (+3) Pulped Banana Peel (+2) Robust Harvest (+1) |
Clown's Tears (-8) Plant-B-Gone (-4) Silencer (-3) Nothing (-2) Oil (-1) |
Clown Masks, Clown Shoes, Clown Suits |
| Hyperadipogenic Clown Stem Cells | Banana Glutton | 4 | 0? | Protein, Banana Juice, Synthflesh |
Vanilla Pudding (+8) Growth Serum (+6) Peptides (+4) Corn Oil (+3) Cooking Oil (+1) Space Cola (+1) |
Clown's Tears(-8) Mint Toxin (-6) Silencer (-3) Fernet (-3) Lipolicide (-3) Nothing (-2) Bad Food (-1) |
Clown Masks, Clown Shoes, Clown Suits, Banana Glutton |
| Long Clown Bits | Longface | 4 | 0? | Protein, Banana Juice |
Happiness (+5) Mime's Bane (+4) Laughter (+3) Nitrous Oxide (+2) |
Clown's Tears (-8) Beepsky Smash (-3) Silencer (-3) Mute Toxin (-3) Nothing (-2) Sulfur (-1 |
Clown Masks, Clown Shoes, Clown Suits |
Miscellaneous
| Cell Line | Creates | Growth Rate | Viral Susceptibility | Required Chemical | Supplementary Reagents | Suppressive Reagents | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coniferous Plant Cells | Pine Tree | 4 | 1 | Ammonia, Ash, Robust Harvest |
Saltpetre (+5) Carbon Dioxide (+2) Nutriment (+2) Space Cola (+2) Holy Water (+2) Water (+1) Cellulose (+1) |
Plant-B-Gone (-8) | Living Pine Trees |
| Hypergenic Xenocytes | Vat Beast | 4 | 0.5 | Protein, Vitamin, Peptides, Liquid Electricity, Growth Serum, Organic Slurry |
Rezadone (+3) Entropic Polpnium (+3) Red Queen (+2) Peach Juice (+2) Uranium (+1) Liquid Gibs (+1) |
Salt (-3) Syriniver (-2) |
Vat Beasts, Mold |
| Aberrant Residue | Random Netherworld Mob | 4 | 0 | Hollow Water, Wizz Fizz, Organic Slurry |
Wittel (+10) Protozine (+5) Plasma Oxide (+3) Chlorine Trifluoride (+1) |
Peptides (-6) Protein (-4) Nutriment (-3) Liquid Gibs (-2) |
Netherworld Creatures, Lavaland Geysers |
| Motile Fungal Hyphae | Walking Mushroom | 4 | 0 | Protein | Polonium (+6) Corn Syrup (+3) Mushroom Tea (+3) Coffee Grounds (+2) Nuka Cola (+2) Mold (+2) Sugar (+1) Cellulose (+1) |
Lead (-4) Garlic (-3) Plasma (-2) Flash Powder (-2) Pax (-2) Copper (-1) |
Huge Mushroom Slice, Algae |