Science Lab

Science Lab

Science Lab

Learn. Share. Contribute. The knowledge portal of Leica Microsystems. Find scientific research and teaching material on the subject of microscopy. The portal supports beginners, experienced practitioners and scientists alike in their everyday work and experiments. Explore interactive tutorials and application notes, discover the basics of microscopy as well as high-end technologies. Become part of the Science Lab community and share your expertise.
Ribbon diagram of a donor (D) and acceptor (A) molecule which participate in FRET (Förster resonance energy transfer).

What is FRET with FLIM or as it is usually known FLIM-FRET?

Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a well-established fluorescence-based technique which is used to study molecular interactions. It is useful for the analysis of protein-DNA and…
Time-lapse imaging of calcium in cells using the ratiometric calcium indicator Fura-2.

Ratiometric Imaging and Analysis of Ion Concentration in Cells

Many cellular functions depend on the dynamic balance of ions, electric potentials, and pH between the cytosol and surrounding extracellular space. Changes in these values affect cellular function.…
3D rendering of a mouse beta cell with mitochondria (blue), insulin SGs (orange), microtubules (red), nucleus (yellow), and plasma membrane (transparent).

High-Pressure Freezing Protocols for Ultrastructural 3D EM

High pressure freezing (HPF) can help preserve hydrated cells and tissues close to their biological state at the moment of immobilization, supporting more reliable ultrastructural interpretation than…
Claudia Mayrhofer ZFE Graz

Ultramicrotome UC Enuity in Practice: Stable 15 nm Sections at ZFE

After using the UCT and UC6 ultramicrotomes, Claudia Mayrhofer calls UC Enuity a leap in stability—so robust that vibrations and temperature shifts don’t spoil sections, even with multiple users. Auto…
LMD ionizer before & after cut.

Eliminating Electrostatic Interference in Laser Microdissection

Electrostatic charge in laser microdissection (LMD) causes two critical failures: samples stick to charged surfaces and are lost, or samples fly into adjacent wells and cause cross-contamination. We…

History, Developments and Trends of Microscopy in Cancer Research

Cancer is a global disease, with 18 million new cases diagnosed and 10 million cancer-related deaths worldwide in 2020. This burden is set to increase, with a projected increase in cases of ~55% by…
Mouse fibroblasts where F-actin is labelled with FITC (green), tubulin with Cy5 (red), and nuclei with DAPI (blue). Image courtesy of Dr. Günter Giese, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg, Germany.

Overview of Fluorescent Dyes in terms of Applications and Properties

An introduction to commonly used fluorescent dyes and an overview of their characteristics are given in this article. Fluorescence microscopy is used for the study of specific cellular components with…

Researchers Insights: Microscopy in Cancer Research

Discover how imaging techniques are driving cancer research forward. In this issue, we present comprehensive multimodal studies using microscopy, as well as new directions in intraoperative cancer…
Zebrafish heart, DAPI (nuclei, blue), Tropomyosin (cardiomyocytes, red) and GFP (primordial cardiac layer, green). Courtesy of Anna Jazwinska, University of Fribourg, Switzerland.

A Guide to Fluorescence Microscopy

Fluorescence microscopy uses the ability of fluorophores, dyes, or fluorescent proteins to emit light of a specific wavelength after being excited with light of a shorter wavelength. Biomolecules can…
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