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CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research
Past Seminars

Seminar Abstract

Probing cells and tissues using spectroscopy and synchrotrons

During the 1990s, an increase in the sensitivity in IR spectroscopic instrumentation by three orders of magnitude led to the development of IR microspectrometers capable of recording spectra from microscopic regions of tissue. By the end of the 1990s advances in IR sensitive CCD technology led to the development of imaging spectrometers using focal plane array (FPA) detectors capable of rapidly obtaining images of cells and tissues based on chemical information. Very recently IR microspectrometers have been coupled to synchrotron sources allowing the intense flux of IR photons generated by the synchrotron to probe the macromolecular architecture of single cells.

The Centre for Biospectroscopy at Monash University is a world leader in this area of research focusing on the development of diagnostics for human diseases as well as pioneering the use of biospectroscopic techniques to probe the influence of the environment on algal and plant cells.

This talk will introduce the listener to the basic principles of IR and Raman spectroscopy, as well as explaining the application of synchrotron light to biospectroscopy. This will be illustrated by research that uses microspectroscopy and synchrotrons to study algal and plant cells.

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CSIRO = Marine Laboratories Auditorium, Castray Esplanade, Hobart

For further information, or to schedule a seminar, contact:
Peter Oke, (Oceanographic seminars) CSIRO Marine Research (03) 6232 5387
Piers Dunstan, (Biological seminars) CSIRO Marine Research (03) 6232 5382
Katrina Nitschke, Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems CRC (03) 6226 2265 & IASOS, University of Tasmania (03) 6226 2509