144
$170,000 USA.
Addi tional options include an autocloning device,
Coulter volume sensor, and extended data analysis systems.
WHAT WILL WE LEARN ABOUT THE OCEANS WHICH MERITS THIS APPROACH TO
RESEARCH QUESTIONS?
Our specific interest is the phytoplankton -- microscopic plants
which collect and convert solar energy into chemical energy of sugars
and other compounds to form the first step of the food web. Collectively, phytoplankton are the pastures of the sea.
Phytoplankton,
however, are not the only particles in the 1 to 150 um size range -bacteria and microzooplankton occupy this same size range.
Mud and
silt particles and fine sands also overlap in size as does detritus,
the decaying organic material present almost everywhere in the sea.
While the complex size overlap once presented limitations on experimental approach and design, now, through fluorescence and light
scatter characteristics we can exploit particle differences which can
result in separation of subpopulations for biomass, elemental composition, cell physiology, enzymology, grazing studies, etc.
What we can say with assurance is that flow cytometry!sorting is
a technological breakthrough which, for the first time, permits a
close examination of individual cells in a rapid and statistically
significant fashion.
There are many important questions about the
oceans which have captured scientists' curiosity for decades. Now it
appears that we have a tool which should enable researchers to
address questions previously intractable.
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR FLOW CYTOMETRY!SORTING
There are three basic requirements for flow cytometry/sorting.
These are:
first,
the particles must be single cell/particle
suspensions; second, at present, the particles must be wi thin the
size range of 1-150 um; third, the particles should be in a concentration range of 105 to 10 6 cells per ml. Each of these requirements
can present problems which must be dealt with beyond the instrumentation per se (Fig. 2).
TOWARDS OVERCOMING CURRENT LIMITATIONS
While phytoplankton cells commonly exist as single cells in a
fluid medium, doublets as well as chain-forming diatoms and chainforming cyanobacteria are common and must be reckoned with. Multicellular organisms present additional complications. Certainly
$170,000 USA.
Addi tional options include an autocloning device,
Coulter volume sensor, and extended data analysis systems.
WHAT WILL WE LEARN ABOUT THE OCEANS WHICH MERITS THIS APPROACH TO
RESEARCH QUESTIONS?
Our specific interest is the phytoplankton -- microscopic plants
which collect and convert solar energy into chemical energy of sugars
and other compounds to form the first step of the food web. Collectively, phytoplankton are the pastures of the sea.
Phytoplankton,
however, are not the only particles in the 1 to 150 um size range -bacteria and microzooplankton occupy this same size range.
Mud and
silt particles and fine sands also overlap in size as does detritus,
the decaying organic material present almost everywhere in the sea.
While the complex size overlap once presented limitations on experimental approach and design, now, through fluorescence and light
scatter characteristics we can exploit particle differences which can
result in separation of subpopulations for biomass, elemental composition, cell physiology, enzymology, grazing studies, etc.
What we can say with assurance is that flow cytometry!sorting is
a technological breakthrough which, for the first time, permits a
close examination of individual cells in a rapid and statistically
significant fashion.
There are many important questions about the
oceans which have captured scientists' curiosity for decades. Now it
appears that we have a tool which should enable researchers to
address questions previously intractable.
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR FLOW CYTOMETRY!SORTING
There are three basic requirements for flow cytometry/sorting.
These are:
first,
the particles must be single cell/particle
suspensions; second, at present, the particles must be wi thin the
size range of 1-150 um; third, the particles should be in a concentration range of 105 to 10 6 cells per ml. Each of these requirements
can present problems which must be dealt with beyond the instrumentation per se (Fig. 2).
TOWARDS OVERCOMING CURRENT LIMITATIONS
While phytoplankton cells commonly exist as single cells in a
fluid medium, doublets as well as chain-forming diatoms and chainforming cyanobacteria are common and must be reckoned with. Multicellular organisms present additional complications. Certainly