Developmental Imaging Suite

In 2006 the Expression Genomics laboratory established an IMB developmental imaging suite. The suite consists of automated technologies for in situ hybridisation, automated imaging and state of the art laser capture microscopy. This equipment forms the engine behind Dr Grimmond's and Prof Little's NIH funded Genitourinary Development map program (http://www.gudmap.org).

Tecan GenePaint 150 in situ robot: This system automates, in a tightly temperature-controlled manner, all steps required for performing ISH on cells or tissues on microscope slide formats. This includes fixing, staining, washing and hybridization procedures. The GenePaint platform is based on a TECAN liquid handling and hybridisation robot. The worktable is configured with two chamber racks, temperature-controlled racks and liquid troughs and is capable of simultaneously processing 96 samples. It is the only dedicated system currently available for this type of research.

BioLane HTI Automated wholemount in situ station: The BioLane HTI is designed to perform hybridisation and all washes in an automated fashion. The system performs ISH on samples held in mesh bottomed wells, allowing for up to 48 wells to be processed per ISH run.

Digital Virtual Microscopy: The large number of sections generated on the Genepaint system is recorded using digital Virtual microscopy. Up to 48 slides are place in an autoloader and imaged using Olympus .slide software providing a virtual image of the entire slide that can be viewed at any resolution. [see example in a new window]

PALM laser capture Combi research system: The PALM MicroLaser Systems are state-of-the-art tools for precise, non-contact laser based micromanipulation. The lasers used (a pulsed ultraviolet and a continuously emitting infrared laser) are interfaced into a research microscope and focused through objectives with high numerical aperture to a minimum possible spot size. Due to this concentration of the laser light, adjacent material is not affected. The system is equipped with both a laser scalpel and tweezers to permit trapping and cutting of material.