Electron Microscopic Technique and Ultrastructure

After the course, the student should: 1. demonstrate familiarity with the physical and technical principles of electron microscopes; 2. describe the basic methods used for sample preparation in electron microscopy; 3. explain how molecules can be localized in biological samples using antibodies and other probes; 4. explain how electron microscopes can be used to acquire three-dimensional images of biological samples; 5. discuss the basics on how electron microscopy can be applied in structural biology, element analysis, and characterization of materials; 6. demonstrate experience in using electron microscopes and in image interpretation; and 7. discuss examples on how electron microscopy has been applied in research.

Specimen preparation methods: tissue sample acquisition techniques, tissue processing and examination, physical and technical principles of different electron microscopes, localization of molecules by immunoelectron microscopy, special techniques for localization of molecules in electron microscopy, occupational safety in electron microscopy laboratory work, localization of elements by electron microscopy, electron tomography, correlative light and electron microscopy, image processing and interpretation, Cryo electron microscopy, techniques for material characterization by electron microscopy, demonstrations on transmission and scanning electron microscopy of biological samples, examples of application of electron microscopy in biomedical research. The practical aspects shall be demonstrated.