Nucleic Acid Stains For Microscopy

Microscopy offers great potential for qualitative and quantitative studies on the structure and function of cells and is uniquely suitable for probing living cells. The specimen is illuminated by light of a certain range of wavelengths, which may not necessarily be monochromatic, while viewing emitted (fluorescence) light of longer wavelengths. New methods, like confocal microscopy, provide better resolution (~1.4 improvement) and enable the measurement of various parameters. A point source and a point detector, both achieved by a pinhole are used, while light from other than the focal plane is defocused at the confocal aperture and thus detected only weakly.