An Imaging Facility to Enhance Study of Cell and Molecular Biology

生物科学（61）最近在米德尔伯里学院基因组研究和微生物学的发展引起了人们对真核细胞基因组修饰和这种修饰的表型效应的目视检查的兴趣。学生们现在使用绿色荧光蛋白（GFP）“自然”标记野生型和突变型E2F转录因子，跟踪它们的定位并监测它们在培养的哺乳动物细胞中的功能，在一个扩展的实验室项目中，作为真核细胞基因组修饰的范例进行了调整和实施。他们在新建的成像设备中使用配备荧光和微分干涉对比光学的倒置显微镜检查这些基因修饰的细胞。他们还使用低温恒温器和该设备，包括荧光和DIC光学的直立显微镜，用于内分泌学，免疫学，发育生物学以及细胞生物学的高级学习和课程研究项目。此外，提供这些显微镜与数字捕获，显示和存储功能，使学生在每个工作站上以小组工作，并鼓励他们在数据收集和分析积极合作。本项目实施的程序改编自各种来源，包括科学文献（例如，Magae等人，1999年；Kavaler等人，1999年；Parfitt和Newman， 1998年）、专著和技术手册（例如，Conn， 1999年；Lefkovits， 1996年）。该项目的结果主要是通过分析学生在使用成像设备、荧光和DIC显微镜以及低温恒温器之前和之后准备的报告组合，以及在入学和毕业期间跟踪学生的成绩来评估的。

Biological Sciences (61) Recent growth in genomic research and microbiology at Middlebury College has generated interest in the genomic modification of eukaryotic cells and in the visual examination of the phenotypic effects of such modification. Students now use green fluorescent protein (GFP) to "naturally" tag wild- type and mutant E2F transcription factors, follow their localization and monitor their function in cultured mammalian cells, in an extended laboratory project newly adapted and implemented as a paradigm for the genomic modification of eukaryotic cells. They examine these genomically modified cells using inverted microscopes equipped for fluorescence and differential interference contrast optics in a newly constructed Imaging Facility. They also use a cryostat and this facility, including upright microscopes with fluorescence and DIC optics, for advanced study and course research projects in endocrinology, immunology, and developmental biology as well as cell biology. Additionally, provision of these microscopes with digital capturing, display and storage capabilities allows students to work at each work station in small groups and encourages their active collaboration in data collection and analysis. Procedures implemented in this project are adapted from various sources, including the scientific literature (e. g., Magae et al., 1999; Kavaler et al., 1999; Parfitt and Newman, 1998) and monographs and technical manuals (e. g., Conn, 1999; Lefkovits, 1996). The results of this project are evaluated primarily through the analysis of portfolios of student reports prepared before and after they used the Imaging Facility, fluorescence and DIC microscopes, and cryostat and by tracking student outcomes during matriculation and following graduation.