Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

The ability to map developmental processes and gene expression requires high resolution microscopy both in utero, as well as in organ and cell cultures. Recent advances in imaging also have an advantage in being able to provide functional data in addition to static imaging. The purpose of this proposal is to establish a microscopy suite that can be used to map developmental processes and gene expression through several different modalities. The proposed equipment will provide us with an ability to identify the expression of genes over time in developing frog and mouse models. A macrofluorescent microscope will enable analysis of fluorescent gene expression in transgenic animals by allowing whole embryo analysis, as well as the ability to assess individual cell expression. A high end monochrome digital camera combined with a high power objective and multiple fluorochrome filters provides the ability to assess subcellular localization of multiple fluorophores at the same time. Finally, we require an isofluorane chamber for anesthetizing mice, thereby allowing for functional analysis of tissue development in live animals by high resolution ultrasound. By combining this infrastructure with the current microscopy core, we will be able to examine developmental processes in a fashion that we have previously be unable to do.