The Beatson Institute for Cancer Research View Institution's Website 2 articles published in JoVE Genetics Genetic Engineering of Dictyostelium discoideum Cells Based on Selection and Growth on Bacteria Peggy Paschke1, David A. Knecht2, Thomas D. Williams1, Peter A. Thomason3, Robert H. Insall3, Jonathan R. Chubb4,5, Robert R. Kay1, Douwe M. Veltman1 1MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, 2Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, 3Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute Glasgow, 4MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, 5Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London Dictyostelium discoideum is a popular model organism to study complex cellular processes such as cell migration, endocytosis, and development. The utility of the organism is dependent on the feasibility of genetic manipulation. Here, we present methods to transfect Dictyostelium discoideum cells that overcome existing limitations of culturing cells in liquid media. Medicine Modeling and Imaging 3-Dimensional Collective Cell Invasion Rebecca W. Scott1, Diane Crighton2, Michael F. Olson2 1Strathclyde Institute for Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 2The Beatson Institute for Cancer Research Models of tumor cell invasion into three-dimensional extracellular matrix better reflect the in vivo situation than two-dimensional motility assays. Using matrix invasion assays combined with confocal imaging of fluorescently-labeled cells, detailed information on invasion modes and the distinct contributions of leading versus following cells can be obtained.