Laboratory techniques learned by student researchers

Some of the techniques learned and used during recent research projects include hormone implant construction, behavior testing, slide subbing, tissue sectioning and float mounting, and immunocytochemistry.

Many of the studies done in this lab begin with testing the behavior of different groups of animals. Our room in the animal colony can house approximately 50 lizards, in both individual and group housing arrangements. Testing typically consists of placing a stimulus animal into another animal's home cage and timing and recording specific behavioral responses. In the pictures to the below and left, Kristen and Zach are observing the responses of one of our adult Cnemidophorous velox.

Another common task in our lab is processing tissue for analysis. On the right, Vanessa is using a microtome to slice wax-embedded tissue. On the left, Zach is positioning the tissue sections on specially prepared glass slides by floating the tissue on a layer of water.

After samples have been mounted on slides, we often stain the tissue to highlight the presence of biological molecules of interest. One techique we use to accomplish this task is immunocytochemistry (ICC). ICC utilizes antibodies to locate a specific molecule and tag it with a visible dye. To the left, Vanessa and Susan are applying an antibody solution to prepared slides.