Imaging Dynamic Processes in Cells and Tissues

Live cell imaging has been around in one form or another for many years, but recently, interest in the technique has really grown. To cover all aspects of live cell imaging would be a huge task and well beyond the scope of this article. However, this overview will give a brief introduction to the possibilities and more specialised areas will be looked at in future articles. Developments in three main areas are driving the revolution in live cell imaging. Molecular technology, microscope technology and the need to know. Let?s start with the last one first. Microscopists have always tended to want things to sit still whilst they look at them, or had to stabilise them to withstand the rigours of intense light or electron bombardment ? or just to stop them going off. So they used (and still do) a wide variety of, by definition, noxious chemicals to stabilise living samples. However if we want to really understand the delicate interplay between cellular components, these fixatives are going to have to go. ...Live Cell Imaging has been around in one form or another for many years, but recently, interest in the technique has really grown...