The rapid-tome, a 3D-printed microtome, and an updated hand-sectioning method for high-quality plant sectioning

• Published in: Plant methods Vol. 19; no. 1; p. 12
• Main Authors: Thomas, David J., Rainbow, Jordan, Bartley, Laura E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 04.02.2023; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: 3D-printing; Additive manufacturing; aerenchyma; BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Botany; Cell division; Comparative analysis; Cross section; Hardwoods; High aspect ratio; High school students; High schools; Juniperus virginiana; Lignin; Methodology; Methods; Microscopic analysis; Microscopy; Morphogenesis; Morphology; outreach; Panicum virgatum; Plant; Plant anatomy; Plant Sciences; Platanus occidentalis; printers; Root; Roots; seasonal growth; Sectioning; Soft tissues; spring; Stem; Stems; Structure-function relationships; summer; Three dimensional printing; wood; Xylem; United States; Plant; Microscopy; Root; 3D-printing; Cross section; Plant anatomy; Sectioning; Stem

Microscopic analysis of plant anatomy is a common procedure in biology to study structure and function that requires high-quality sections for accurate measurements. Hand sectioning of specimens is typically limited to moderately soft tissue while harder samples prohibit sectioning by hand and/or re...