Microscope showed a cell in 3D
Microscope showed a cell in 3D

Video: Microscope showed a cell in 3D

Video: Microscope showed a cell in 3D
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A team of scientists from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (USA) combined previous developments in the field of microscopes to create a new one that showed the work of living cells in 3D, according to National Geographic. The study was led by Eric Betzig, 2014 Nobel Prize Laureate in Chemistry.

The research team was led by the 2014 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for “advancing high-resolution fluorescence microscopy” - Eric Betzig. He combined two old technologies in three microscopes to create something completely new.

According to the physicist, the problem with modern fluorescence microscopes is that they use very bright light sources. This brightness can damage or even destroy the cell. “Life has not developed in such a way as to perceive such surplus, - says the scientist. - If you do not destroy the nucleus, then you always ask yourself: "What have I done with this poor organism, is it normal?" Improving the technology of lattice light microscopy, which Eric himself developed in 2010, he was able to see the cell without damage and in richer detail.

Immune cells in the perilymphatic space of the inner ear / Science

Cancer cell migration (green) / Science

As an example, experts took the zebrafish fish, or, as they say, "Lady's Stocking" - its embryos are transparent and easy to observe. However, even in this case, shooting the cells inside the body is difficult. The cells on the surface of the fish act like water on a windshield, shading and scattering any light. The experience of astronomers who use the so-called adaptive optics helped to correct this deficiency. It takes into account the distortions caused by the Earth's atmosphere, corrects them and improves the image quality. Eric Betzig explained:

“If you know how the light is distorted, you can reshape the mirror to create the opposite distortion that cancels the original aberrations. Exploring a cage under glass is like looking at a lion in a zoo: you don't see its natural behavior. Looking at a cell in the body is similar to a lion chasing an antelope in the savannah.

Organelle dynamics in the zebrafish eye / Science

Spinal cord of the embryo / Science

Now the microscope is able to show cellular interactions only in transparent organisms. It is not yet possible to look under human skin, but this technology already promises important discoveries. For example, doctors will be able to observe healthy and diseased cells inside the body and note the difference between them. In the future, this will affect the research and testing of medicines.

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