What is the function of DMEM? How does it help scientists culture cells?

DMEM, or Dulbecco/ Vogt modified Eagle's Minimal Essential Medium, is a cell culture medium. It helps scientists culture cells by providing a nutrient rich surface for cells to grow on.

DMEM is a cell culture medium. "Cell culture mediums, or growth mediums, are liquids or gels designed to support the growth of cells."(I) "A cell culture is the process by which cells are grown under controlled conditions, generally outside of their natural environment." (II) DMEM is a variant of EMEM, or Eagle's Minimal Essential Medium. EMEM is designed for maintaining cells in tissue culture. It contains amino acids, salts, glucose and vitamins, all of which are involved in the processes with which a cell provides itself with energy. The DMEM variant is modified to contain up to four times more vitamins and amino acids, and two to four times more glucose than EMEM. This modified composition makes DMEM suitable for more specific cell types. (III) Scientists use cell culture medium as the surface on which they grow cells for their experiments. It is most often placed in a container such as a petridish and after it hardens into a gel-like structure, the scientist applies the desired sample of cells on the medium for them to grow.

Sources: I http://bit.ly/1UUF6vL II http://bit.ly/1LxQAAw III http://bit.ly/1Ow2e49