Meeting report. American society for cell biology

✍ Scribed by Allen, Robert D. ;McIntosh, J. Richard

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 1981
• Weight: 332 KB
• Volume: 1
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0271-6585
• DOI: 10.1002/cm.970010209

✦ Synopsis

Workshop on Optical Microscopy

to demand for higher contrast, resolution, and sensitivity to low light levels. Light microscopy is still the only means at hand to observe the activity of living cells under experimental conditions. A recent workshop reviewed progress in contrast generation, laser microbeam technology, videomicroscopy, and low light level imaging.

Michael Berns, Director of the new UCI-NIH Laser Microbeam Program (LAMP) at Irvine, discussed the purpose and design of this recently established NIH Biotechnology user resource. The facility incorporates a neodymium YAG laser microbeam (wavelengths from 217-800nm) and a 25 picosecond neodymium-YAG laser to expose living cells t o ultrashort pulses of light. This dual laser system is interfaced with an inverted Zeiss Axiomat microscope and an image-array processing computer. Dr. Berns presented examples of microbeam irradiation of organelles, cells, and groups of cells and discussed the mechanisms of various microbeam effects at the subcellular level. LAMP includes core research and development in the area of laser microbeam irradiation, collaborative research and service to the user community, and training for scientists in the application of laser microbeam irradiation. The Program also has facilities for all conventional modes of microscopy, spectrofluorimetry, tissue culture, electron microscopy, animal care and biochemistry.