New Microscope Enables Real-Time 3-D Movies of Developing Embryos
Previously, the method of watching the inner workings of cells was a limited and complicated ordeal with the use of fluorescence microscopy. This technique involved scientists shining a laser on the studied cells after they were attached with a fluorescent tag to their cellular proteins, causing them to light up. The microscope then lit the cells from above while a detector would take 3-D pictures from top to bottom. The problem with this though was that it killed the cells, as they were damaged by the scope's powerful laser, even the ones not in focus. Thus, extended viewing was impossible. In addition to this, since the cells were put under stress, their behavior was modified compared to normal cells, making this observation tool a debatable device.
However, a team at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, turned the microscope on its side, making a huge breakthrough. By rotating the microscope 90 degrees, they were able to make the laser shine on only slice at a time, preventing the other cells from damage, increasing viewing time by leaps and bounds. They were able to view a developing zebra fish embryo for 24 hours. In addition, they used an even faster camera that was even more sensitive, providing more data. To top that off, they used a process called structured illumination, to make their light sheet microscopy even more powerful by eliminating previous interference from opaque cells.
I found this post to be incredibly interesting, as the breakthrough in cell imaging isn't just limited to watching embryonic growth, but can be used to observe many systems from cellular growth to development and more. This revolutionary imaging can help us further understand and visualize an abundance of processes at length and in great detail, that were previously only fuzzy clips.
Source: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=new-microscope-enables-movies-of-embryos
However, a team at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, turned the microscope on its side, making a huge breakthrough. By rotating the microscope 90 degrees, they were able to make the laser shine on only slice at a time, preventing the other cells from damage, increasing viewing time by leaps and bounds. They were able to view a developing zebra fish embryo for 24 hours. In addition, they used an even faster camera that was even more sensitive, providing more data. To top that off, they used a process called structured illumination, to make their light sheet microscopy even more powerful by eliminating previous interference from opaque cells.
I found this post to be incredibly interesting, as the breakthrough in cell imaging isn't just limited to watching embryonic growth, but can be used to observe many systems from cellular growth to development and more. This revolutionary imaging can help us further understand and visualize an abundance of processes at length and in great detail, that were previously only fuzzy clips.
Source: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=new-microscope-enables-movies-of-embryos
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