Interesting stuff happening the last few days in lab. We are looking at cancer cells and precancerous cells. The confocal microscope is used to image the cells and the AFM is then used to test the rigidity of the cells, giving a force vs. depth graph. The slope of the graph is then analyzed to determine the "squishyness" of the cell in Force per cm. Generally, cancer cells are softer than normal cells but it is predicted that the softness should increase as cells go from normal through various precancerous stages to cancerous cells. The AMF pokes the cells in various places spread on the surface and each poke is analyzed.

With the newly installed temperature controlled stage, cells are able to be kept at body tempertature while on the stage, increasing the useful lifetime from a couple of hours to up to 8 hours before they die.

Cells are all huma esophogus cells.