Graduate student Brianne Rogers from the Myers Lab using the confocal microscope to look at differentiated neurons generated from iPSC cultures.
CONFOCAL MICROSCOPE The ability to look closely at cells, peering into their internal organelles, visualizing their interactions with other cells, and pinpointing the location of various nucleic acids and proteins within the cell, revolutionized the field of biology and beyond. Early microscopes offered low-resolution glances into the cellular world. However, as technology advanced, so did the detail in which research- ers could observe cells. Microscopes evolved from simple magnifying glasses to compound microscopes to the super-powerful electron microscopes of today. One microscope that is extremely powerful in biolog- ical research is the confocal microscope, which provides high-resolution imaging of live cells at multiple depths, creating an almost three-dimensional picture. Looking closely at cell biology in 3D rather than 2D allows scien- tists to zero in on key processes more accurately and with
less cost than animal models, opening doors to faster, less costly cures. Thanks to contributions from DOE research funding and private donors, HudsonAlpha recently acquired a confocal microscope. This high-tech instrument will sup- port fundamental human health research, including the development of diagnostic tools, the identification of bio- markers that monitor disease progression and aid in drug development, and the discovery of targets for possible new therapies. Researchers in Dr. Kankshita Swaminathan ’s lab are using the microscope in their efforts to create bioproducts from the sugars in the stem. The confocal scope allows researchers to visualize targeted changes in specific plant structures and have more confidence in their constructs for transformation, saving both time and money. ■
RESEARCH REPORT
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