Hmm, misread the dimensions....  Another option would be pollen, very
regular shapes, many are elongated, e.g. canola pollen, most are
fairly autofluorescent, can be stained if desired and they're tough.
Reasonably uniform size, often quite well-characterised, like diatoms.
And unless you need a pure sample, kitty litter will give you lots of
diatoms... though perhaps not of known length.
________________________________________
From: Confocal Microscopy List [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of [log in to unmask] [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, 22 October 2008 7:43 a.m.
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Calibration fibre

Why not try cotton fibres?  They can be stained with many fluorescent
dyes, e.g. DAPI, propidium iodide, calcofluor white, in fact, almost any
DNA or carbohydrate stain.  They are a few microns in diameter, very
flexible, centimeters long and very tough.  Cotton wool from the chemist
or supermarket should work fine.
cheers,
Rosemary

Rosemary White
CSIRO Plant Industry
GPO Box 1600
Canberra, ACT 2601
Australia

ph 61 2 6246 5475
fx 61 2 6246 5334
________________________________________
From: Confocal Microscopy List [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Martin Wessendorf [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, 22 October 2008 12:45 a.m.
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Calibration fibre

Taryn Saggese wrote:

> I’m looking for a rod/fibre equivalent to the fluorescence beads used for
> microscope calibration. As I would like to use these rods as a control for a
> skeletonization algorithm they need to be of a known length, preferably
> between 2 and 10µm and have a diameter of 0.5 - 1µm. It is also preferable
> that the rods are made of a material that is able to be bent or twisted.
>
> Any suggestions would be most appreciated

Might diatoms work?  They couldn't be twisted but some of those have
interesting, convoluted shapes that have been pretty thoroughly
characterized.

Good luck--

Martin Wessendorf
--
Martin Wessendorf, Ph.D.                   office: (612) 626-0145
Assoc Prof, Dept Neuroscience                 lab: (612) 624-2991
University of Minnesota             Preferred FAX: (612) 624-8118
6-145 Jackson Hall, 321 Church St. SE    Dept Fax: (612) 626-5009
Minneapolis, MN  55455
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