Microscopy and biology have always been intimately linked together. One of the driving forces for the development of the very earliest microscopes was our curiosity of the basis of life and our desire to understand it.
Brightfield microscopy has been a viable observation technique for cytology and histological analysis employing stained cells and tissue sections mounted on a microscope slide.
Most of the oxygen we breathe finds its origins in marine algal photosynthesis. These algae organise their Rubisco, the enzyme responsible for capturing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, into a liquid droplet called the ‘pyrenoid’.
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a multipurpose technique that can simultaneously produce a high-resolution 3D image
while also obtaining mechanical information of samples on surfaces. These abilities make AFM a very useful technique for studying filamentous membrane-bound proteins in their native environment with minimal sample preparation.
Anyone who has been active in the microscopy community for any decent length of time will know John Delly who works at the McCrone Group. He is an excellent didactic teacher, widely respected for his knowledge and ability to teach and instruct.
infocus readers may recall my recent article on the superb Science Heritage Collection of replica antique microscopes (issue 57, March 2020), kindly donated to the RMS by Dr and Mrs James McCormick.
