Fall 2006 Special Topics Courses

ENG BE 500 A1 - Practical Optical Microscopy of Biological Materials (Mertz & Allen)

In this course, we will explore the theory and practice of modern light microscopy while utilizing a variety of imaging methods applicable to understanding cellular function. Students will have the opportunity to use laser scanning confocal as well as wide field imaging and near field imaging to address experimental questions of ion fluxes in cells, protein dynamics and association, and the power of phase and interference techniques to enhance the detection of structure in low contrast biological material. Exploration and discussion of detector technology, signals and signal processing, spectral separation methods and physical mechanisms used to determine protein associations and protein diffusion in cells are integrated throughout the course. 4 credits