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Related Concept Videos

X-ray Diffraction of Biological Samples01:10

X-ray Diffraction of Biological Samples

X-ray diffraction or XRD is an analytical tool that utilizes X-rays to study ordered structures such as crystalline organic and inorganic samples, polycrystalline materials, proteins, carbohydrates, and drugs.
According to Bragg's law, when X-rays strike the sample positioned on a stage, the rays are  scattered by the electron clouds around the sample atoms. The  X-ray diffraction or scattering is caused by constructive interference of the X-ray waves that reflect off the internal crystal...
Cryo-electron Microscopy01:28

Cryo-electron Microscopy

Conventional electron microscopy (EM) involves dehydration, fixation, and staining of biological samples, which distorts the native state of biological molecules and results in several artifacts. Also, the high-energy electron beam damages the sample and makes it difficult to obtain high-resolution images. These issues can be addressed using cryo-EM, which uses frozen samples and gentler electron beams. The technique was developed by Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank, and Richard Henderson, for...
Electron Microscope Tomography and Single-particle Reconstruction01:07

Electron Microscope Tomography and Single-particle Reconstruction

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) can be used to determine the 3D structure of biological samples with the help of techniques such as electron microscope tomography and single-particle reconstruction. While single-particle reconstruction can examine macromolecules and macromolecular complexes in vitro conditions only, tomography permits the study of cell components or small cells in vivo.
Electron Tomography
Electron tomography can be performed either in TEM or STEM (scanning transmission...
X-ray Crystallography02:18

X-ray Crystallography

The size of the unit cell and the arrangement of atoms in a crystal may be determined from measurements of the diffraction of X-rays by the crystal, termed X-ray crystallography.
Diffraction
Diffraction is the change in the direction of travel experienced by an electromagnetic wave when it encounters a physical barrier whose dimensions are comparable to those of the wavelength of the light. X-rays are electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths about as long as the distance between neighboring...
Studying the Cytoskeleton01:17

Studying the Cytoskeleton

The cytoskeletal architecture can be studied using different microscopic and biochemical techniques. Electron microscopy was instrumental in discovering the cytoskeletal architecture around the 1960s, which allowed obtaining structural information at a high-resolution level. However, the sample preparation procedure often limits this ability in biological samples. Several protocols have been developed over the years to optimize sample preparation. In one of the protocols known as rotary...
X-ray Imaging01:24

X-ray Imaging

German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen (1845–1923) was experimenting with electrical current when he discovered that a mysterious and invisible "ray" would pass through his flesh but leave an outline of his bones on a screen coated with a metal compound. In 1895, Röntgen made the first durable record of the internal parts of a living human: an "X-ray" image (as it came to be called) of his wife’s hand. Scientists worldwide quickly began their own experiments with X-rays, and by 1900, X-ray was widely...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Non-invasive 3D-Visualization with Sub-micron Resolution Using Synchrotron-X-ray-tomography
08:51

Non-invasive 3D-Visualization with Sub-micron Resolution Using Synchrotron-X-ray-tomography

Published on: May 27, 2008

Advances in biological structure, function, and physiology using synchrotron X-ray imaging*.

Mark W Westneat1, John J Socha, Wah-Keat Lee

  • 1Department of Zoology, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL 60605, USA. mwestneat@fieldmuseum.org

Annual Review of Physiology
|February 15, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Synchrotron X-ray imaging offers a powerful new method to study the internal physiology and biomechanics of small organisms. This technique provides high-resolution 3D imaging, overcoming previous limitations in observing internal structures and functions.

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Improving High Viscosity Extrusion of Microcrystals for Time-resolved Serial Femtosecond Crystallography at X-ray Lasers
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Improving High Viscosity Extrusion of Microcrystals for Time-resolved Serial Femtosecond Crystallography at X-ray Lasers

Published on: February 28, 2019

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Last Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Non-invasive 3D-Visualization with Sub-micron Resolution Using Synchrotron-X-ray-tomography
08:51

Non-invasive 3D-Visualization with Sub-micron Resolution Using Synchrotron-X-ray-tomography

Published on: May 27, 2008

X-ray Diffraction of Intact Murine Skeletal Muscle as a Tool for Studying the Structural Basis of Muscle Disease
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X-ray Diffraction of Intact Murine Skeletal Muscle as a Tool for Studying the Structural Basis of Muscle Disease

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Improving High Viscosity Extrusion of Microcrystals for Time-resolved Serial Femtosecond Crystallography at X-ray Lasers
07:26

Improving High Viscosity Extrusion of Microcrystals for Time-resolved Serial Femtosecond Crystallography at X-ray Lasers

Published on: February 28, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Comparative Biology
  • Physiology
  • Biomechanics
  • Imaging Technology

Background:

  • Studying small organisms (approx. 1 cm) is limited by the inability to visualize internal processes and obtain submillimeter 3D morphology.
  • Existing imaging methods struggle with soft tissue penetration and high-resolution internal visualization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To demonstrate the utility of synchrotron X-ray imaging for studying the physiology and biomechanics of small organisms.
  • To overcome limitations in visualizing internal structures and functions in millimeter-centimeter-sized animals.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized synchrotron X-ray imaging to achieve micrometer-range spatial resolutions.
  • Applied the technique to both fixed and living specimens of small organisms.
  • Focused on visualizing internal morphology, respiratory systems, and feeding apparatuses.

Main Results:

  • Successfully visualized internal structures of small organisms with high spatial resolution.
  • Provided novel insights into insect respiratory physiology, including tracheal systems and air sac function.
  • Examined the biomechanics of insect mouthpart function (chewing and sucking).

Conclusions:

  • Synchrotron X-ray imaging overcomes previous constraints in studying small organism physiology and biomechanics.
  • This advanced imaging technique offers a new window into the internal workings of small animals.
  • Future applications promise significant contributions to comparative biology and understanding physiological and biomechanical questions.