| abstract |
A method for observing and determining the size of individual particles and for determining the weight distribution of a sample containing particles of varying size, which involves placing a deformable or nondefor- mable particle in a medium, subjecting the particle to an external force, thereby causing conformational and/or positional changes, and then measuring these changes. Preferred ways to measure conformational and positional changes include: (1) determining the rate at which a deformable particle returns to a relaxed state after termination of the external force, (2) determining the rate at which a particle becomes oriented in a new direction when the direction of the perturbing force is changed, (3) determining the rate at which a particle rotates, (4) measuring the length of a particle, particularly when it is at least partially stretched, or (5) measuring at least one diameter of a spherical or ellipsoidal particle. Measurements of relaxation, reorientation, and rotation rates, as well as length and diameter can be made using a light microscope connected to an image processor. Particle relaxation, reorientation and rotation also can be determined using a microscope combined with a spectroscopic device. The invention is' particularly useful for measuring polymer molecules, such as nucleic acids, and can be used to determine the size and map location of restriction digests. Breakage of large polymer molecules mounted on a microscope slide is prevented by condensing the molecules before mounting and unfolding the molecules after they have been placed in a matrix. |