Microscopy for plant research

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Our labs study patterns and processes of plant evolution and development.  We investigate a broad range of topics including (1) developmental patterns underlying different types of fruits and flowers, (2) how genetic pathways may be altered to produce different morphologies, (3) description of plant fossil species, and (4) integration and comparison of fossil material to living species to answer questions about developmental and evolutionary pathways and floristic evolution.  In order to adequately address any of these questions, careful analysis and documentation of plant material using high quality microscopes is required.  The importance of microscopy in describing and identifying fossil material cannot be overstated.   We propose to purchase a microscope system including a dissecting microscope, a compound microscope with fluorescent capabilities, and a digital documentation system.  This equipment is vital to the ongoing research in our labs.  Without nearly full time access to a high quality microscope system, we will be severely limited in our ability answer fundamental questions about plant development and evolution.  In addition, lack of microscope access will hinder student progress by limiting the scope and amount of material that they can study.