It houses two transmission electron microscopes and one scanning elecrron microscope, and it includes equipment for sample preparation, cryomicroscopy, and freeze-fracture. A comprehensive course in biological electron microscopy is offered each year. The facility is equipped with research microscopes whose capabilities include epi-fluorescence, Nomarski DIC, and confocal microscopy. Two-photon fluorescence microscopy capabilities will soon be added. Histology Facility Karen Larison, Manager The Histology Facility specializes in techniques that permit the visualization of tissue components at the resolution of the light microscope.
Emphasis is placed on neuroanatomical and immunocytochemical methods.
Microtomes are available to cut frozen, paraffin, vibratome, and plastic sections. Collaborative efforts, instruction, and technical support are included in the functions of the facility. A wide variety of facilities are available for structural and biophysical studies. These include modern x-ray crystallography and NMR facilites, computer work stations, instrumentation for analytical ultracentrifugation, circular dichroism, calorimetry, light scattering, and additional facilites for the structural and dynamic characterization of macromolecular assemblies. The molecular, cellular, and developmental biology group maintains an excellent technical support team, which provides maintenance and design capabilities in the areas of computing, instrumentation, and electronics.