Volume Determination of Human Metaphase Chromosomes by Scanning Force Microscopy

Authors

Wolfgang Fritzsche, Iowa State UniversityFollow
Eric Henderson, Iowa State University

Abstract

The scanning force microscope (SFM) yields the topography of the investigated surface. A procedure was developed which starts from this three-dimensional information to estimate the volume of a biological specimen. The volume of spread human metaphase chromosomes was determined in air and rehydrated in aqueous buffer. A difference of the determined volume of a air-dried metaphase chromosome set was found compared to values from electron microscopic investigations, and could be correlated with differences in the hydration state of the chromosomes. SFM-based relative volumes of air-dried chromosomes resembles literature data regarding volume range and distribution. Possible application of SFM-based relative volume measurements for chromosome classification purposes is discussed.

Recommended Citation

Fritzsche, Wolfgang and Henderson, Eric (1995) "Volume Determination of Human Metaphase Chromosomes by Scanning Force Microscopy," Scanning Microscopy: Vol. 10: No. 1, Article 9.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/microscopy/vol10/iss1/9