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Introduction:
The goal of this study was to provide a foundation for the study of
physical biology by using quantitative tools, such as microscopy and
spectrophotometry, to investigate several different biological
systems. Part of this work also forms the basis for our
advanced project: sea urchin embroyology.
Aims:
1)
Microscopic studies of various organisms:
To gain an
understanding of the dynamic range of biological spatial scales by
examining different organisms such as stentor, fibroblasts, C.
Elegans, and E. Coli using a variety of different microscopes,
techniques, and magnification powers. Most importantly,
calibration and scale bars were used across all studies.
2) In Vitro Kinetics of β-galactosidase:
To
gain an understanding of temporal scales by measuring the rates of
cellular metabolism, in particluar β-galactosidase enzyme
kinetics. Using spectrophotometry, quantitative measurements
of absorbance were measured that directly correlated with the rate
of enzymatic degradation.
3)
Lytechnius variegatus
(Sea Urchin) Fertilization and
Early Development: This study combines both quantitative
size and rate measurements in the most elegant of ways by observing
sea urchin embryology in its early stages of fertilization and
development.
Methods and Results:
The results for each experiment are detailed in each section in the
toolbar above: Microscopy, Kinetics, and Embryology for Aims 1,2,
and 3, respectively. Images and movies are shown in each
section as well as a detailed description of methods.
Conclusion:
The result of this study was to provide a comprehensive
understanding of the spatial and temporal scales of quantitative
biology. The selected experiments were successful in providing
us with that experience as well as experience with using the tools
that are necessary to arrive at the quantitative answers necssary to
gain a better understand of biophysics.
References:
Listed below are some helpful websites that were of value during our
studies:
E. Coli Statistics
Worm Book: C.
Elegan reference
Micscape Article: Stentor
Sea
Urchin Embryology
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