Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 6, 2026

Three-dimensional Imaging of Bacterial Cells for Accurate Cellular Representations and Precise Protein Localization
Published on: October 29, 2019
Life is three-dimensional, and it begins with molecules.
1Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America.
This research highlights the critical role of three-dimensional structures in biological processes and their impact on health. It showcases how fundamental scientific discoveries, driven by collaborative efforts, contribute to societal well-being.
Area of Science:
- Structural Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Biological processes are fundamentally governed by molecular structures.
- Understanding these structures is key to advancing health and well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the significance of three-dimensional molecular structures in biological functions.
- To emphasize the societal impact of basic research outcomes derived from laboratory collaborations.
Main Methods:
- Review of foundational research contributions.
- Emphasis on outcomes from a collaborative laboratory setting.
Main Results:
- Demonstration of the central role of DNA double helix structure.
- Highlighting the importance of basic research in achieving societal benefits.
Conclusions:
- Three-dimensional structures are crucial for understanding life.
- Collaborative basic research yields significant societal impact.
Related Concept Videos
Three-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology
Molecular Models
Three-Domain System of Life
Molecular Shapes
Two regions of electron density in a diatomic...
Chemistry of the Cell
Water
The polarity of the water molecule and its resulting hydrogen bonding makes water a unique substance with special properties that are intimately tied to the processes of life. Life originally evolved in an aqueous environment, and most of an organism’s cellular chemistry and metabolism occur inside the aqueous contents of the cell’s cytoplasm. Special properties of water are its high heat capacity...
Protein Dynamics in Living Cells
Fluorescent recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) is a fluorescent-protein-based detection technique used to quantify protein movement rates within the cell. This method exposes a small portion of the cell to an intense laser beam. The laser beam causes permanent photobleaching of the fluorophore-tagged proteins in the exposed region. As the bleached...

