Optics in Biology and Life Science
Abstract:
Optical
techniques are at the heart of many methods for life science research and
drug development. The majority of the latest biological experimentations
rely heavily on absorbance, fluorescence or luminescence detection,
visualization and quantitation. These optical applications enable nearly all
biological disciplines including cell biology, molecular biology,
biochemistry and genetics.
Some of the simplest examples that you may encounter in everyday life
includes examination of different white blood cell types and counting their
numbers under a microscope in a doctor~{!/~} s office to see if you have an
infection or inflammation. Or a pregnant woman may undergo amnio procedure
for genetic testing of chromosomal abnormalities that pathologists look for
fluorescently tagged DNA and chromosome structure under a microscope.
For routine biological research, much more complex optical instruments are
used. For instance, tagging proteins, or DNA and RNA with fluorescent
molecules in a high-throughput setting allows screening of compound
libraries for their activity and interaction with cells, in order to quickly
identify the best drug candidate. Another prime example of integrating
optical methods with biology is the utilization of fluorescence measurement
with microarray technology, where fluorescent tags on RNA molecules isolated
from tissue samples are used to determine the expression levels of
individual genes from the entire genome in parallel. In addition to
measurement techniques, optics can be used simply as a tool for preparing
biological samples for analysis, such as the use of UV and infrared lasers
for micro-dissection of tissue samples.
This presentation will discuss such optical methods as used in the biotech
instruments produced by the speaker's employer, MDS Analytical Technologies,
formerly known as Molecular Devices. MDS-AT is a 20 veteran of biotech in
the Valley and a leader in many segments of biotech instrumentation.
Biography:
The speaker, Gene Campbell, holds a PhD in Optical
Sciences from the Optical Sciences Center at the University of Arizona.
Currently, he is Director of Hardware at MDS-AT, where his team is
responsible for tools for DNA microarrays, cellular imaging, laser capture
microdisssection, fluorescent imaging plate readers, and eletrophysiology.
Dr. Campbell was formerly Chief Scientist and co-founder of Glimmerglass
Networks, a 3D MEMS optical switching startup in Hayward, CA. Prior to that
he was a Physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where he
developed world leading interferometer for producing optics for Extreme
Ultraviolet Lithography.
