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Related Concept Videos

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...
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...
Overview of Electron Microscopy01:25

Overview of Electron Microscopy

The wavelengths of visible light ultimately limit the maximum theoretical resolution of images created by light microscopes. Most light microscopes can only magnify 1000X, and a few can magnify up to 1500X. Electrons, like electromagnetic radiation, can behave like waves, but with wavelengths of 0.005 nm, they produce significantly greater resolution up to 0.05 nm as compared to 500 nm for visible light. An electron microscope (EM) can create a sharp image that is magnified up to 2,000,000X.
Immunogold Electron Microscopy01:20

Immunogold Electron Microscopy

Immunoelectron microscopy utilizes immunogold labeling of endogenous proteins with specific antibodies to detect and localize these proteins in cells and tissues. The procedure provides insights into the distribution and quantification of protein under different stimulation conditions offering clues about their functions. Conjugating highly electron-dense gold particles with primary or secondary antibodies allow antigen detection on and within cells, with high resolution and specificity.
Three-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology01:28

Three-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology

Three-dimensional imaging techniques are essential in cell biology, allowing researchers to visualize intricate cellular structures with high resolution. Two prominent methods, Differential Interference Contrast Microscopy (DIC) and Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy (CSLM), provide distinct advantages for imaging live and thick specimens, respectively.Differential Interference Contrast MicroscopyDIC microscopy enhances contrast in transparent, unstained samples by converting phase...
Imaging Biological Samples with Optical Microscopy01:18

Imaging Biological Samples with Optical Microscopy

Optical microscopy uses optic principles to provide detailed images of samples. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek designed the first compound optical microscope in the 17th century to visualize blood cells, bacteria, and yeast cells. In 1830, Joseph Jackson Lister created an essentially modern light microscope. The 20th century saw the development of microscopes with enhanced magnification and resolution.
In optical microscopy, the specimen to be viewed is placed on a glass slide and clipped on the stage...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Focussed Ion Beam Milling and Scanning Electron Microscopy of Brain Tissue
08:57

Focussed Ion Beam Milling and Scanning Electron Microscopy of Brain Tissue

Published on: July 6, 2011

Towards native-state imaging in biological context in the electron microscope.

Anne E Weston1, Hannah E J Armer, Lucy M Collinson

  • 1Electron Microscopy Unit, London Research Institute, Cancer Research UK, 44 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3PX UK.

Journal of Chemical Biology
|November 17, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Electron microscopy offers higher resolution than light microscopy for cell biology. Recent advances in sample preparation and instrumentation enable near-native imaging and atomic-scale resolution, providing better biological context.

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Biological Sample Preparation by High-pressure Freezing, Microwave-assisted Contrast Enhancement, and Minimal Resin Embedding for Volume Imaging
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Biological Sample Preparation by High-pressure Freezing, Microwave-assisted Contrast Enhancement, and Minimal Resin Embedding for Volume Imaging

Published on: March 19, 2019

Nano-fEM: Protein Localization Using Photo-activated Localization Microscopy and Electron Microscopy
13:13

Nano-fEM: Protein Localization Using Photo-activated Localization Microscopy and Electron Microscopy

Published on: December 3, 2012

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Focussed Ion Beam Milling and Scanning Electron Microscopy of Brain Tissue
08:57

Focussed Ion Beam Milling and Scanning Electron Microscopy of Brain Tissue

Published on: July 6, 2011

Biological Sample Preparation by High-pressure Freezing, Microwave-assisted Contrast Enhancement, and Minimal Resin Embedding for Volume Imaging
07:33

Biological Sample Preparation by High-pressure Freezing, Microwave-assisted Contrast Enhancement, and Minimal Resin Embedding for Volume Imaging

Published on: March 19, 2019

Nano-fEM: Protein Localization Using Photo-activated Localization Microscopy and Electron Microscopy
13:13

Nano-fEM: Protein Localization Using Photo-activated Localization Microscopy and Electron Microscopy

Published on: December 3, 2012

Area of Science:

  • Cell biology
  • Microscopy
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Light and fluorescence microscopy are essential in cell biology but limited by light wavelength resolution.
  • Electron microscopy provides higher resolution for sub-cellular architecture but requires complex sample preparation.
  • Current methods can alter biological samples, complicating data interpretation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe recent advances in electron microscopy sample preparation and instrumentation.
  • To highlight techniques that enable imaging of biological samples in a near-native state.
  • To showcase innovations pushing the boundaries of high-resolution imaging and data interpretation.

Main Methods:

  • Cryopreparation and cryoelectron microscopy for near-native sample preservation.
  • Environmental scanning electron microscopy for imaging in a less harsh environment.
  • Correlative microscopy and advanced markers for high-resolution protein localization.
  • Innovations in microscope design for atomic-scale resolution.
  • Automated high-resolution electron microscopy data acquisition over large volumes.

Main Results:

  • Near-native imaging of biological samples is achievable through cryopreparation and environmental scanning electron microscopy.
  • High-resolution protein localization is enhanced by correlative microscopy and novel markers.
  • Microscope design advancements have reached atomic-scale resolution.
  • Automated data acquisition allows ultrastructure to be placed within biological context.

Conclusions:

  • Recent advances in electron microscopy techniques and instrumentation significantly improve high-resolution imaging of biological samples.
  • These innovations overcome limitations of traditional methods, enabling near-native imaging and detailed ultrastructural analysis.
  • The ability to image at atomic scales and in larger volumes provides unprecedented biological context.