5 ms·
I'm sure they know what they are doing but the way that the slice is extracted after each pass seems really problematic to me. It looks like the slice "bunches
by joeyo 17y ago
I'm sure they know what they are doing but the way that the slice is extracted after each pass seems really problematic to me. It looks like the slice "bunches up" and they extract it manually with some kind of blunt instrument. Wouldn't that result in a lot of unintended tearing and deforming of the slice? Perhaps someone who has used a microtome before can explain.
- johndevor 17y agoAre they saving the slices or just photographing each layer as it's cut down?
- Devilboy 17y agoI'm pretty sure they just care about the photographs at this stage.
- aarongough 17y agoThat's what I thought as well... I don't think the slices themselves would be much (if any) more useful than just dissecting the brain normally...
- ars 17y agoWatch the video link posted by Ezra http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=973677 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=973677 and you can see what they do with each slice. They store it in a tray with square holes (all bunched up). Later they remove it, wash it, mount it on glass, and stain it. Then it goes under an automatic microscope that scans it.
- aarongough 17y agoWow, thanks! From the way the slices were bunched up I (wrongly) assumed they were basically getting thrown away. But I guess not!
- trobertson 17y agoI believe they will preserve the slices cryogenically. http://thebrainobservatory.ucsd.edu/hmblog/?p=66 http://thebrainobservatory.ucsd.edu/hmblog/?p=66
- krallja 17y agoI am not an expert, by any means, but my fiancée, a med student, says the brain is encased in and has had its water content replaced by paraffin. Paraffin doesn't stick to itself very much, so the sample is not likely to be damaged by the bunching. The "blunt instrument" you see is probably just a soft brush.