Cold Spring releases new series of laboratory manuals

Sophisticated techniques that permit the visualization of dynamic processes in cells, tissues, and organ systems at extraordinary levels of resolution have become tremendously valuable in biological research. However, finding the right imaging method and optimizing it for data collection can be a daunting process, even for an established imaging laboratory. To fill this need, a new series of laboratory manuals has been developed by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. The first volume in this series, Imaging: A Laboratory Manual, has just been released.

"One of the central themes of biology is the constant change and transformation of most biological systems," writes Rafael Yuste, Series Editor, in the Preface to the book series. "This series of manuals covers imaging techniques in the life sciences-techniques that try to capture these dynamics."

Imaging is the cornerstone of the series and is meant as a general reference for all fields, describing the theory and practice of a wide array of methods. Subsequent volumes, to be released in the coming months, will focus on techniques for more specialized fields, such as developmental biology and neuroscience.

Imaging is organized into three sections, each containing background information and step-by-step protocols. Chapters in the Instrumentation section focus on imaging hardware and the basics of light microscopy, light sources, cameras, and image processing. Chapters in the Labeling and Indicators section provide detailed instructions on labeling methods to stain cells, organelles, and proteins as well as to measure ions and detect molecular interactions. Chapters in the Advanced Microscopy section discuss newer techniques at the cutting edge of imaging research. The manual also includes a set of appendices with a glossary of imaging terms and other useful information on spectra, lenses, filters, and the safe handling of imaging equipment.

All chapters were written by leading imaging experts. The manual will be useful for all laboratory scientists-from trainee to principal investigator-interested in using imaging methods.