Gear up with a lab coat, gloves, and goggles, and travel through experiment stations that get you up close and personal with cellular biology (available in both English and Spanish). You don’t need to be a scientist to enter, but you’ll feel like one when you leave!
DeBakey Cell Lab tickets are available as an add-on to general admission. Please purchase them at our ticket desk.
Please see lab hours, ticket pricing, experiment options, and lab rules below. The DeBakey Cell Lab experience is also available for field trips, Discovery Camps, birthday parties, and private events.
Lab Experiments
Each visitor group may select up to 2 experiments per visit
Ages 7 & Up
Cheek Cells | 15-20 mins
Stain and examine a small sample of your cheek cells under a microscope.
DNA Extraction | 15-20 mins
See long, stringy DNA strands after breaking down the cell membranes of wheat germ.
Ages 9 & Up
Detecting Cancer | 15-20 mins
Test simulated patient samples for a cancer biomarker, just like clinical labs do, then compare healthy and cancerous tissue slides under a microscope.
Examining Blood | 30 mins
Make, stain, and look at a sheep blood smear through a microscope to appreciate different types of blood cells, RBCs, WBCs, and platelets (along with human blood smear samples available in the lab). Or study blood typing with simulated patient blood samples.
Ages 13 & Up
Antimicrobial Agents | 20-25 mins
Determine which common antimicrobial products are the most effective in killing bacteria.
Mystery Microbes | 30-45 mins
Identify living bacterial cultures using chemical tests, stains, and a microscope.
Experimentos de Laboratorio
Cada grupo de visitantes puede seleccionar hasta 2 experimentos por visita
Edades 7 años en adelante
Células de la mejilla | 15-20 minutos
Prepara y tiñe una pequeña muestra de tus propias células de la mejilla y obsérvalas de cerca bajo un microscopio.
Extracción de ADN | 15-20 minutos
Observa las largas hebras de ADN después de romper las membranas celulares del germen de trigo.
Edades 9 años en adelante
Detección del cáncer | 15-20 minutos
Analiza muestras simuladas de pacientes para detectar un biomarcador del cáncer, tal como se hace en los laboratorios clínicos. Después, observa y compara bajo el microscopio muestras de tejido sano y tejido canceroso.
Análisis de sangre | 30 minutos
Prepara y tiñe una muestra de sangre de oveja y obsérvala bajo un microscopio para identificar diferentes tipos de células sanguíneas, como glóbulos rojos, glóbulos blancos y plaquetas. También podrás observar muestras de sangre humana disponibles en el laboratorio o practicar la identificación de los tipos de sangre con muestras simuladas.
Edades 13 años en adelante
Agentes antimicrobianos | 20-25 minutos
Determina cuáles productos antimicrobianos de uso común son más eficaces para eliminar bacterias.
Microorganismos misteriosos | 30-45 minutos
Identifica cultivos bacterianos vivos mediante pruebas químicas, tinciones y observación bajo el microscopio.
Lab Hours
| Monday* | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm |
| Tuesday | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm |
| Wednesday | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm |
| Thursday | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm |
| Friday | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm |
| Saturday | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm |
| Sunday | 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm |
Lab Tickets
Members | $3 per person
Non-Members | $6 per person
Each lab ticket permits access to up to 2 of the 6 lab stations per visit. Lab tickets must be purchased in addition to general museum admission.
The last lab ticket will be sold 1 hour before closing. Check museum hours here.
Due to the presence of chemicals, glassware, and bacteria, all guests ages 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult. All lab participants must be 7 or older.
- All lab participants will be required to have tickets upon entering the lab. Lab tickets must be purchased in addition to general museum admission at the ticket desk
- Each visitor group may select up to 2 experiments per visit
- Due to the presence of glass, chemicals, flammables, and bacteria, children must be 7 years or older to enter the lab
- All children under the age of 13 must be supervised by a parent or guardian
- Safety glasses, gloves, and lab coats must be worn at all times while in the lab
- Gum chewing, feeding, food, or drinks are not allowed
- Pregnant women are strongly discouraged from entering the lab due to the presence of live bacteria
- Be alert and proceed with caution
- Photography and video recording of live experiments are not permitted, including with phones, cameras, smart glasses, or other wearable recording devices
Reglas del laboratorio
- Todos los participantes del laboratorio deben tener un boleto para ingresar. Los boletos del laboratorio deben comprarse por separado, además de la entrada general al museo.
- Cada grupo de visitantes puede escoger 2 experimentos por visita.
- Debido a la presencia de vidrio, productos químicos, sustancias inflamables y bacterias, los niños deben tener 7 años o más para ingresar al laboratorio.
- Los niños menores de 13 años deben estar acompañados por un adulto responsable en todo momento.
- Todos los participantes deben usar gafas de seguridad, guantes y bata de laboratorio durante su estancia en el laboratorio.
- No se permite masticar chicle, comer, ni ingresar al laboratorio con alimentos o bebidas.
- Por la presencia de bacterias vivas, se recomienda que las mujeres embarazadas no ingresen al laboratorio.
- Mantente atento y actúa con precaución.
- No se permite tomar fotos ni grabar videos de los experimentos con telefonos, camaras, gafas inteligentes o otros dispositivos de grabacion.
Other Ways to Enjoy the Cell Lab
About Dr. Michael DeBakey
The lab is named after the respected and accomplished cardiovascular surgeon and medical pioneer, Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, this interactive bilingual lab experience is designed to make biology-based science experiments accessible to the public and inspire future scientists and science-lab leaders in the medical field.
Jocelyne Velasquez
Cell Lab Coordinatorjvelasquez@thehealthmuseum.org713-521-1515Please reach out for more information or questions about the DeBakey Cell Lab