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Title: Trackoscope: A low-cost, open, autonomous tracking microscope for long-term observations of microscale organisms
Cells and microorganisms are motile, yet the stationary nature of conventional microscopes impedes comprehensive, long-term behavioral and biomechanical analysis. The limitations are twofold: a narrow focus permits high-resolution imaging but sacrifices the broader context of organism behavior, while a wider focus compromises microscopic detail. This trade-off is especially problematic when investigating rapidly motile ciliates, which often have to be confined to small volumes between coverslips affecting their natural behavior. To address this challenge, we introduceTrackoscope, a 2-axis autonomous tracking microscope designed to follow swimming organisms ranging from 10μmto 2mmacross a 325cm2area (equivalent to an A5 sheet) for extended durations—ranging from hours to days—at high resolution. UtilizingTrackoscope, we captured a diverse array of behaviors, from the air-water swimming locomotion ofAmoebato bacterial hunting dynamics inActinosphaerium, walking gait inTardigrada, and binary fission in motileBlepharisma.Trackoscopeis a cost-effective solution well-suited for diverse settings, from high school labs to resource-constrained research environments. Its capability to capture diverse behaviors in larger, more realistic ecosystems extends our understanding of the physics of living systems. The low-cost, open architecture democratizes scientific discovery, offering a dynamic window into the lives of previously inaccessible small aquatic organisms.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2313724
PAR ID:
10586702
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ;
Editor(s):
Sung, Baeckkyoung
Publisher / Repository:
plos one
Date Published:
Journal Name:
PLOS ONE
Volume:
19
Issue:
7
ISSN:
1932-6203
Page Range / eLocation ID:
e0306700
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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