Leica MZ16 Stereomicroscope

近年来，显微镜继续发生快速变化。 通过体视显微镜获得的图像质量随着所用物镜的更好设计而不断提高。 体视显微镜的用途是，只要标本清晰，它可以让我们看到表面特征以及内部染色结构。 具有低倍率物镜的传统光学显微镜将无法检查尺寸相对较大的物体，因为透射光不够强，无法解析样本的内部结构细节。 目前，我们正在以拟南芥合子胚和幼苗根段为外植体，研究体细胞胚胎发生和器官发生过程中分生组织的形成过程。 我们正在利用许多增强子陷阱系与GUS（β-葡萄糖醛酸酶）作为标记基因。 GUS阳性染色可间接显示分生组织基因活性的变化。 利用这种方法，我们有信心，我们可以研究早期事件和分生组织形成的细胞基础。 为了观察与再生过程相关的变化并识别分生组织起始细胞，我们需要适当的工具来可视化表面和外植体内的变化。 因此，具有高分辨率的高质量体视显微镜是绝对必要的。 Leica MZ 16体视显微镜的最高标准放大倍率为115倍，如果需要，还可提供新的2倍PlanApo物镜。研究生和高年级本科生也将使用这种立体显微镜。 这也将是一个很好的教学工具，因为许多学生没有意识到简单观察的力量;许多人不知道如何从他们的实验材料中寻找和提取信息！

In recent years, rapid changes continue to take place in microscopy.  The quality of images obtained through a stereomicroscope has been improving with better design of the objectives used.  The usefulness of a stereomicroscope is that it allows us to see surface features as well as internal stained structures, as long as the specimen is clear.  A conventional light microscope with low power objectives will not be able to examine objects that are relatively large in size as the transmitted light is not strong enough to resolve the internal structural details of a specimen.  At present, we are studying the process of meristem formation during somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis using Arabidopsis zygotic embryos and seedling root segments as explants.  We are making use of a number of enhancer-trap lines with GUS (beta-glucuronidase) as the marker gene.  We can visualize the change in meristem gene activity indirectly through positive GUS staining.  Using this approach, we have confidence that we can study the early events and the cellular basis of meristem formation.  In order to see changes associated with the regeneration process and to identify cells that are meristem initials, we need the proper tool to visualize changes at the surface as well as within the explants.  Hence, a quality stereomicroscope with a high resolving power is an absolute must.  The Leica MZ16 stereomicroscope has the highest standard magnification of 115X and if needed, a new 2X PlanApo objective is also available. This stereomicroscope will also be used by graduate and senior undergraduate students.  This will also be an excellent teaching tool as many students are unaware of the power of simple observation; many do not know how to look and extract information from their experimental material!