Episode 1: An Introduction to Volume Electron Microscopy

Intricate 3D ultrastructural information can be delivered by SEM technologies and methods, known collectively as volume EM (vEM). vEM drives new discoveries in neurobiology, cancer research, developmental biology, plant science, and more. This six-part webinar series will explore the technological foundations of vEM imaging and highlight the growing number of application areas.

Life is inherently three-dimensional. Thus, approaches that can acquire, visualize, and measure the spatial relationship of organelles, cells, tissues, and organisms allow for greatly improved interpretations and deeper insights for many important biological questions. The development of volume electron microscopy (vEM), a broad collection of imaging strategies that capture hundreds or thousands of consecutive sections in an automated fashion, has extended the power and scope of 3-D cell ultrastructure far beyond traditional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of individual ultrathin sections. This webinar will provide an overview of key Volume EM technologies and workflows, how they work and when to use, describe the fundamentals of sample preparation, include examples of biological questions that can be answered, and share Volume EM community resources to support vEM understanding and success.

Key Learnings:

• Understand the scientific potential of Volume EM technologies and methods
• Learn about the differences between Array Tomography, Serial Block-Face SEM, and FIB-SEM
• Gain a basic understanding of vEM sample preparation
• Get to know the growing vEM community