Abstract: Flow cytometry is widely applied in various fields of life science research. Due to its complex principles and operations, it is difficult for undergraduates to master it quickly. This teaching reform enabled undergraduates to systematically learn the application of flow cytometry in cell biology research by using flow cytometry to detect the cell cycle, cell phagocytosis, and apoptosis, which helped to cultivate their scientific research thinking and experimental skills and promoted students’ active learning and exploration spirit. The progressive teaching contents included the basic knowledge of flow cytometry, methods for collecting and displaying fluorescence signals, how to set gate, threshold, and fluorescence compensation for multi fluorescence detection. The teaching results showed that the progressive experimental design deepened the students’ understanding and mastery of the basic knowledge of flow cytometry. The students gradually learned cell specimen preparation, experimental operation and data processing which improved their operation and scientific research analysis abilities, laid a good foundation for scientific research work, and explored the application of advanced instruments in undergraduate practical teaching.

Key words: progressive experimental teaching, flow cytometry, cell biology laboratory, cell cycle, phagocytosis, apoptosis