Hypothetically, could someone survive by consuming DMEM with L-glutamine? I understand this is not recommended. I just wonder, because DMEM is formulated for human cells.
Thank you.
Hi David Schad . I love these type of questions!! Essential AA for humans include H, I, L, K, M, F, T, W, V.
Glutamine is added to DMEM after whatever the companies do to sterilize the media.
But I think the answer for DMEM is yes for a some time (~0.5-1 year) because we humans store a lot of essential nutrients in our bodies.
If you add 10% fetal bovine serum to the DMEM then I think you could suck on that for decades without nutritional problems.
Fascinating question indeed.
I doubt if we can survive for long on just DMEM. Even though it is optimal for cells in vitro, it may not suffice for optimal functioning of the organ systems in vivo. So eventually, some form of deficiency will ultimately kick in.
But it's worth experimenting in laboratory mammals of the ethics board approves.
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