Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Three-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology01:28

Three-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology

253
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...
253
Electron Microscope Tomography and Single-particle Reconstruction01:07

Electron Microscope Tomography and Single-particle Reconstruction

2.5K
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...
2.5K
Cryo-electron Microscopy01:28

Cryo-electron Microscopy

3.5K
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...
3.5K
Studying the Cytoskeleton01:17

Studying the Cytoskeleton

6.4K
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...
6.4K
Overview of Electron Microscopy01:25

Overview of Electron Microscopy

9.6K
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.
9.6K
Two-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology01:29

Two-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology

373
Two-dimensional (2D) microscopy encompasses a range of optical techniques that capture images within a single focal plane, offering detailed representations of microscopic structures. These techniques are essential in biological and medical research, enabling the visualization of cellular and subcellular structures with different levels of contrast and specificity.There are several major types of 2D microscopy, each with strengths and applications.Bright-Field MicroscopyBright-field microscopy...
373

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The morphogenetic activity of dAnk genes in the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana is sensitive to Si availability.

Communications biology·2026
Same author

Templateless crystallization of holococcolith crystals visualized by intracellular site-specific three-dimensional microscopy.

PNAS nexus·2026
Same author

Spatial Relations between Coccoliths and Their Confining Membrane During Crystal Morphogenesis.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2026
Same author

3D cryoimaging of cell-mediated cholesterol crystal clearance in human atherosclerotic lesions.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025
Same author

pH variations enable guanine crystal formation within iridosomes.

Nature chemical biology·2025
Same author

Specialized molecular pathways drive the formation of light-scattering assemblies in leucophores.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 30, 2025

3D Mitochondrial Ultrastructure of Drosophila Indirect Flight Muscle Revealed by Serial-section Electron Tomography
06:45

3D Mitochondrial Ultrastructure of Drosophila Indirect Flight Muscle Revealed by Serial-section Electron Tomography

Published on: December 19, 2017

8.6K

Electron microscopy of cellular ultrastructure in three dimensions.

Neta Varsano1, Sharon Grayer Wolf1

  • 1Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, 234 Herzl St., Rehovot 76100, Israel.

Current Opinion in Structural Biology
|August 30, 2022
PubMed
Summary

Three-dimensional electron microscopy provides crucial ultrastructural insights into biological processes. This review covers methods like volume SEM and cryo-tomography, aiding researchers in selecting optimal 3D imaging techniques for cellular and tissue analysis.

More Related Videos

Three-dimensional Characterization of Interorganelle Contact Sites in Hepatocytes using Serial Section Electron Microscopy
09:12

Three-dimensional Characterization of Interorganelle Contact Sites in Hepatocytes using Serial Section Electron Microscopy

Published on: June 9, 2022

5.8K
Author Spotlight: A Three-Dimensional Technique for the Visualization of Mitochondrial Ultrastructural Changes in Pancreatic Cancer Cells
08:46

Author Spotlight: A Three-Dimensional Technique for the Visualization of Mitochondrial Ultrastructural Changes in Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Published on: June 23, 2023

1.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 30, 2025

3D Mitochondrial Ultrastructure of Drosophila Indirect Flight Muscle Revealed by Serial-section Electron Tomography
06:45

3D Mitochondrial Ultrastructure of Drosophila Indirect Flight Muscle Revealed by Serial-section Electron Tomography

Published on: December 19, 2017

8.6K
Three-dimensional Characterization of Interorganelle Contact Sites in Hepatocytes using Serial Section Electron Microscopy
09:12

Three-dimensional Characterization of Interorganelle Contact Sites in Hepatocytes using Serial Section Electron Microscopy

Published on: June 9, 2022

5.8K
Author Spotlight: A Three-Dimensional Technique for the Visualization of Mitochondrial Ultrastructural Changes in Pancreatic Cancer Cells
08:46

Author Spotlight: A Three-Dimensional Technique for the Visualization of Mitochondrial Ultrastructural Changes in Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Published on: June 23, 2023

1.7K

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Structural Biology
  • Microscopy

Background:

  • Three-dimensional (3D) electron microscopy is vital for understanding cellular and tissue ultrastructure.
  • Acquiring 3D information presents workflow challenges in sample preparation, imaging, and data analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review available 3D electron microscopy methods for cells and tissues.
  • To discuss the trade-offs between field-of-view and resolution for different techniques.
  • To highlight recent advancements enabling routine 3D volume imaging.

Main Methods:

  • Volume scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging.
  • Cryo-transmission electron microscopy (TEM) tomography.
  • Cryo-scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) tomography.

Main Results:

  • Each method offers distinct advantages regarding field-of-view and resolution.
  • Recent developments are improving the accessibility and standardization of 3D volume imaging.
  • Method selection depends on specific research requirements and desired data output.

Conclusions:

  • 3D electron microscopy is becoming an indispensable tool for cellular and structural biologists.
  • Understanding the capabilities and limitations of various 3D imaging techniques is crucial.
  • Continued development promises to make 3D volume imaging a standard approach in biological research.