Acquisition of Reflex Microscope

购置反射显微镜

• 批准号: 9907345
• 负责人: Joan Richtsmeier
• 金额: $ 4.53万
• 依托单位: Johns Hopkins University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1999
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1999-08-01 至 2000-10-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9907345&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Acquisition; Reflex; Microscope

With National Science Foundation support, Dr. Joan Richtsmeier will purchase a Reflex Microscope that will be used in data collection for specific research projects and in the training of undergraduate and graduate students. The Reflex Microscope represents a fusion between a small coordinate measuring machine and a surface profiler, and it is ideal for measuring locations, distances and angles in three dimensions on small irregular surfaces. The microscope uses the stereoscopic ability of the observer to pinpoint the surface of an image to within a few microns along the "Z" axis. This enables a researcher to find biologically relevant landmarks by precisely locating a tiny illuminated spot over the landmark and demarcating that point by writing the three-dimensional coordinates of the spot to a computer file. Dr. Richtsmeier and colleagues have developed a set of morphometric methods known as Euclidean Distance Matrix Analysis which allow quantitative description and comparison of form, shape and growth of biological objects in three dimensions as well as the clustering and classification of specimens. In conjunction with the Reflex Microscope these techniques will permit quantitative analysis of small biological forms, both extant and extinct in three dimensions. A number of projects will be conducted by a range of scientists. One of the first will focus on the development and evolution of the mammalian skull, using a murine model. Employing genetically modified mice, it will be possible to determine the effect of single genes on the expression of morphological form. This research is basic since the mechanisms involved will, presumably, apply across a wide range of species. Other projects for which the microscope will be employed involve the evolution of early Eocene mammals, the quantitative analysis of teeth and tooth ware and bone sectional geometry and biomechanics. The instrument will also be made available to students who will be instructed in its use.

在国家科学基金会的支持下，Joan Richtsmeier 博士将购买一台反射显微镜，用于特定研究项目的数据收集以及本科生和研究生的培训。反射显微镜代表了小型坐标测量机和表面轮廓仪之间的融合，非常适合测量小型不规则表面上的三维位置、距离和角度。显微镜利用观察者的立体能力沿“Z”轴将图像表面精确定位在几微米范围内。这使得研究人员能够通过精确定位地标上的微小照明点并通过将该点的三维坐标写入计算机文件来划分该点来找到生物学相关的地标。 Richtsmeier 博士及其同事开发了一套称为欧几里得距离矩阵分析的形态测量方法，该方法可以在三个维度上定量描述和比较生物物体的形态、形状和生长，以及样本的聚类和分类。与反射显微镜结合使用，这些技术将允许对现存和灭绝的小型生物形式进行三维定量分析。许多项目将由一系列科学家进行。第一个项目将使用鼠类模型来关注哺乳动物头骨的发育和进化。利用转基因小鼠，将有可能确定单个基因对形态表达的影响。这项研究是基础性的，因为所涉及的机制可能适用于广泛的物种。使用显微镜的其他项目涉及早期始新世哺乳动物的进化、牙齿和牙器的定量分析以及骨骼截面几何形状和生物力学。该仪器还将提供给接受使用指导的学生。