A portable, low-cost device for precise control of specimen temperature under stereomicroscopes

To facilitate precise and convenient control of biological sample temperature, we developed a low-cost device that can be used independently or with any stereomicroscope. The purpose of the device is to control the thermal environment during experimental intervals in which a specimen must be manipul...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPloS one Vol. 15; no. 3; p. e0230241
Main Authors Testa, Nicholas D, Kaul, Samiksha, Le, Kim N, Zhan, Mei, Lu, Hang, Paaby, Annalise B
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Public Library of Science 11.03.2020
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Subjects
Analysis
Background noise
Biological samples
Biology and Life Sciences
Biomedical engineering
Characterization
Copper
Data collection
Embryonic development
Embryos
Engineering
Engineering and Technology
Experiments
Gene expression
Heat
LCDs
Liquid crystal displays
Low cost
Microscopes
Noise pollution
Noise reduction
Physical Sciences
Portable equipment
Power supply
Research and Analysis Methods
Room temperature
Surgery
Temperature requirements
Testing
Thermal environments
Thermometers
Viability
France
Atlanta Georgia
United States > US
Georgia
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Summary:To facilitate precise and convenient control of biological sample temperature, we developed a low-cost device that can be used independently or with any stereomicroscope. The purpose of the device is to control the thermal environment during experimental intervals in which a specimen must be manipulated outside of an incubator, e.g. for dissection or slide-mounting in preparation for imaging. Sample temperatures can be both cooled to below and heated to above room temperatures, and stably maintained at a precision of +/- 0.1˚C. To demonstrate the utility of this device, we report improved characterization of the penetrance of a short-acting temperature-sensitive allele in C. elegans embryos, and identification of the upper temperature threshold for embryonic viability for six Caenorhabditis species. By controlling the temperature environment even as a specimen is manipulated, this device offers consistency and flexibility, reduces environmental noise, and enables precision timing in experiments requiring temperature shifts.
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Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0230241