Fun with Microscopic "Ears"

At the cusp of revolutionizing our perception of the microscopic world, the scientists from three different universities in the UK are building an ear capable of capturing microscopic vibrations. A whole array of cellular conditions or responses could become classified based on the sounds that are made. Like a doctor capable of listening for rales in the lungs, microbiologists would pick up a sound associated with a disruption of cellular processes. The effects of drugs on a cell, effects of mechanical stimuli, and.

The technology for these ears was not built from the ground up; rather, it is a new application of existing technology. Scientists have been using optical tweezers to measure small forces. By measuring beads in the laser light of the tweezers, scientists can measure their movement as they are jostled by microscopic events. A ring of beads is used to surround an event of interest. Upon completion, the scientists plan to listen to the movement of flagella on E. coli. This might improve on the existing method of attaching beads to the tails to watch them move, which requires genetic alterations of the bacteria.



These little ears offer a robust and easy application. The scientists working on them hope that one day they will become standardized equipment in laboratories alongside the microscope. In a sense, it’s just a way to heighten a sense we had never before utilized in microbiology. Ultimately, it will add a new angle to understanding the field.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8529232.stm

Jason Dwight
Section 502