Although the concept of bio-luminescence
microscopy (BLM) is not a novel one, the
recent advances introduced with new
specialised imaging systems have made it a
more realistic procedure. BLM represents a
quantum leap in microscopy since, as its
name suggests, it uses luminescence rather
than fluorescence. This may not seem like
a big deal initially, but luminescence has
a range of benefits over fluorescence.
For example luminescence does not bleach
the sample and is not toxic either, which
makes imaging much more suitable to
live cells and organisms as well as for
long term imaging.