Advanced Microscopy for an Undergraduate Cell Biology Laboratory

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Biological Sciences (61) Advances in imaging technology have made the light microscope one of the most powerful tools of this century to study cell function. We are no longer limited to descriptive studies of dead specimens; we can image live cells carrying out the fundamental processes required for life. The objective of this project is to incorporate modern light microscopic techniques, including fluorescence imaging, into laboratory exercises designed for an undergraduate cell biology course. The microscopes are equipped with video cameras and computers for students to record their results in a digital format. This cell biology course has a highly interactive computer-based component. For all laboratory exercises, pairs of students perform variations of a central experimental theme and post their results on a course web page. The web site not only provides an interactive forum for students to discuss and evaluate a variety of data, but also serves as a resource for faculty at other colleges and universities who would like to incorporate this advanced imaging technology into their courses. This course provides an excellent testing ground for these lab exercises, and those which prove amenable to larger enrollment courses are being adapted for more general cell biology courses. The project is an adaptation of similar programs at Kent State University, Texas A&M University, Davidson College and Haverford College.