Automation Of Single-Cell Techniques In Neural Tissue

The highly heterogeneous nature of cells in the context of native tissue environ-ments necessitates the development of tools and techniques that can manipulate and analyze samples with single-cell resolution. While the past decades have seen significant progress in analyzing individual cells in tissue, both electrically and morphologically, the ability to genetically manipulate and biochemically analyze such cells in a high-throughput manner has seen only limited advances, and therefore a significant technological gap in accessing cells with single-cell specificity in tissue remains. We present a system design and workflow that fills in this gal) in technology through the implementation of precision automation and redesign of standard biological techniques, resulting in greatly improved throughput while maintaining single-cell accuracy and precision. This thesis comprises three parts: First we discuss the design and implementation of an expandable comlputer-cont rolled automation system enabling the rapid maneu-vering and targeting of inicropipettes within tissue environments as well as