EIU Department of Biological Sciences

Imaging Unit

The Imaging Unit is used by faculty and students for teaching and research within the Department of Biological Sciences. This facility includes traditional and digital imaging equipment and was made possible through the generous support of the Department of Biological Sciences and the College of Sciences.

• Olympus BX50 Research-Grade Microscope
• Olympus CK2 Research-Grade Inverted Phase-Contrast Microscope
• Image Analysis Digital Camera Video Camera (Flexcam) System
• Video Projection System
• Polaroid ProPalette 7000 Large-Format Printer and Laminator

Olympus BX50 Research-Grade Microscope

The Olympus BX50 research-grade compound light microscope is an upgradeable system which produces high-quality images. The system is equipped with bright field and differential interference contrast (DIC/Nomarski) optics. The optical system includes 10x and 40x dry, plus 60x and 100x oil immersion objectives. Fluorescent microscopy is also available on the system with the ability to use fluorochromes such as fluorescein (FITC), BODIPY, X- rhodamine, Texas Red, DAPI, and Hoechst dyes.

A camera is mounted in the system for microphotography. It is a fully automatic camera and can be changed to a video camera connected to a time-lapse videocassette recorder for time-lapse video microscopy. The Olympus BX50 can also be upgraded for confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM).

Olympus CK2 Research-Grade Inverted Phase-Contrast Microscope

The department has two research-grade inverted microscopes with phase-contrast optics. These microscopes are used in tissue culturing to observe cells in culture plates. One of the microscopes is in the Biotechnology Center. The other is in Dr. Britto Nathan's laboratory. The microscopes have 10x and 40x objectives and uses the same camera system as the Olympus BX50 microscope. For further information about the microscopes contact Dr. Britto Nathan.

Image Analysis

Scion Image image analysis software (NIH Image for Macintosh) can capture, display, analyze, enhance, measure, annotate and output digital images. It can make quantitative measurements of anything ranging from an object's size to specimen fluorescent intensity and gel density. TIFF Images are created with a digital or video camera or the scanner in the Geographic Imaging System lab.

Video Camera (Flexcam) System

The video camera system can be used to demonstrate laboratory techniques such as the loading electrophoresis gels. it can be attached to a standard microscope to reveal details of microscopic specimens to a large audience. The camera can be attached to a standard television or video projector. The camera can also be used on research-grade microscopes and attached to a time-lapse VCR for time-lapse video microscopy. Contact Sandra Baumgartner for more information about this system.

Video Projection System

The department has projection systems in every classroom. The systems include a computer connected to the local network or internet. Contact Cassi Carpenter for more information about the video projection systems.

Polaroid ProPalette 7000

The Polaroid ProPalette 7000 prints digital images onto 35mm print or slide film. The printer is connected to a computer with a CD and Zip disk drive.

Large-Format Printer and Laminator

An HP T730 DesignJet (42") and a USI 42" laminator are available for printing and laminating posters for information contact Cassi Carpenter.