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Super Resolved Fluorescence Microscopy

Super resolved fluorescence microscopy can achieve a resolution of about 0.02μm (20nm) using visible light.There are two different types. One combines many very small scanned areas to produce a sharper image and the other superimposes many images with normal resolution to produce a high resolution image.The first type uses the technique of stimulated emission depletion.Two lasers are directed onto a specimen. The first scans the specimen and causes fluorescence and the second slightly offset laser cancels the fluorescence from all but a small molecular-sized area of the specimen.The second process involves controlling which molecules fluoresce. Different molecules are allowed to fluoresce each time the specimen is scanned.The images are superimposed to produce a high resolution image.The path of individual molecules can be traced during cellular processes.

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Specification: OCR Biology A (H020), AS-level, 2.1.1 Cell structure. Topic: Components of Living Systems.

Key terms in this lesson

resolution
The ability to distinguish two objects that are close together as separate entities, which determines how much detail can be seen.

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