Abstract: Provided are: a coating material for seeds that can be obtained by a simple treatment stage; and a coated seed that is coated with the aforesaid coating material, suffers from little physical damage and is almost free from growth inhibition. The coating material for seeds comprises as a major component a pulverized inorganic mineral powder. The coated seed is coated with the aforesaid coating material.

Abstract: Provided are: a coating material for seeds that can be obtained by a simple treatment stage; and a coated seed that is coated with the aforesaid coating material, suffers from little physical damage and is almost free from growth inhibition. The coating material for seeds comprises as a major component a pulverized inorganic mineral powder. The coated seed is coated with the aforesaid coating material.

Abstract: A method for producing a recombinant protein includes steps of: (a) culturing a transformed cell in a protein-free and lipid-free medium containing no exogenous growth factors, in which the transformed cell is produced by transfecting a cell of a cell line derived from Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells, the cell line is adapted to a protein-free and lipid-free medium, and the cell is capable of proliferating in a suspended state in a protein-free and lipid-free medium containing no exogenous growth factors, with a vector containing a gene coding for the protein to be produced under the control of a promoter operable in the cell, and (b) recovering the protein produced by the transformed cell.

Abstract: A cellulose gel medium having good visibility of microbial colonies, a cellulose gel culture substrate for manufacturing the cellulose gel medium, a method for manufacturing the cellulose gel culture substrate, a method for screening cellulase-producing microorganisms or cellulase activity with greater efficiency and rapidity, and a culture substrate, which includes a cellulose gel containing cellulose and water as medium-solidifying components, the cellulose has the viscosity of 12 to 35 mPa·S as measured at 26° C. with a solution prepared by dissolving the cellulose at a concentration of 2.5 mg/mL in dimethylacetamide containing 8% (W/V) lithium chloride.

Abstract: A method for producing a recombinant protein includes steps of: (a) culturing a transformed cell in a protein-free and lipid-free medium containing no exogenous growth factors, in which the transformed cell is produced by transfecting a cell of a cell line derived from Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells, the cell line is adapted to a protein-free and lipid-free medium, and the cell is capable of proliferating in a suspended state in a protein-free and lipid-free medium containing no exogenous growth factors, with a vector containing a gene coding for the protein to be produced under the control of a promoter operable in the cell, and (b) recovering the protein produced by the transformed cell.

Abstract: A cell of a cell line adapted to a protein-free and lipid-free medium, which is derived from CHO cells, can be stably used for production of recombinant proteins and can proliferate in a suspended state in a protein-free and lipid-free medium containing no exogenous growth factors. A method for adapting CHO cells by using a protein-free and lipid-free medium and a medium used for the method.

Abstract: A cellulose gel medium having good visibility of microbial colonies, a cellulose gel culture substrate for manufacturing the cellulose gel medium, a method for manufacturing the cellulose gel culture substrate, a method for screening cellulase-producing microorganisms or cellulase activity with greater efficiency and rapidity, and a culture substrate, which includes a cellulose gel containing cellulose and water as medium-solidifying components, the cellulose has the viscosity of 12 to 35 mPa·S as measured at 26° C. with a solution prepared by dissolving the cellulose at a concentration of 2.5 mg/mL in dimethylacetamide containing 8% (W/V) lithium chloride.

Abstract: An apparatus for culture is provided, which apparatus enables to increase the ratio of a culture medium solution to the number of cells while keeping the density of the cells at a high level and diminishing the absolute number of the cells. The apparatus comprises a container having at least one concave part and at least one member (x) selected from the group consisting of a gelatinous material, a sponge material, and a mesh material, wherein the member (x) is placed within the concave part of the container, has at least one hollow by which a part or parts of a surface of the container in the concave part is bared, and holds a solution containing culture medium components. Further, processes for preparing the apparatus, culturing methods that use the apparatus, a method for studying or observing an influence of a substance to be examined on cells or a piece of a tissue, a kit for making the apparatus, and a flat substrate for culture are provided.