The word "double stain" is spelled with a "b" in the beginning and two "l's" in the middle. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is spelled as /dʌbəl steɪn/. The first syllable "dub" is pronounced with a "d" sound followed by a short "uh" sound and then a "b" sound. The second syllable "ble" is pronounced with a short "e" sound followed by a double "l" sound. The final syllable "stain" is pronounced with a long "a" sound followed by a "n" sound.
Double stain refers to a technique used in microscopy to simultaneously label distinct cellular components or structures with two different colored dyes or fluorophores. This method allows for the visualization and differentiation of multiple cellular features or molecules within a single sample, allowing researchers to study their spatial relationship or co-localization.
In double staining, two different dyes are selected based on their unique emission spectra and affinity for specific targets of interest. Each dye exhibits a distinct color under the microscope, typically green and red, enabling clear differentiation between the two stains. This technique is commonly employed in various areas of biological research, such as immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), or protein localization studies.
Double staining provides valuable information about the distribution, arrangement, or interaction between different cellular components. For example, in immunofluorescence double staining, two different primary antibodies raised against specific antigens are utilized. Each primary antibody is then bound to a different secondary antibody, each coupled to a fluorophore of a distinct color. Consequently, the two antigens can be simultaneously visualized and their localization or co-expression patterns analyzed in microscopic images.
Overall, double staining is a valuable tool in biological research, enabling the investigation of multiple cellular components or molecules within a single sample, yielding insights into various biological processes and interactions.
A mixture of two dyes which stain different portions of a tissue or cell differently.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "double stain" does not have a specific etymology on its own as it is a compound word formed by combining two separate words, "double" and "stain". However, we can look at the etymology of each individual word to understand their origins.
1. Double: The word "double" originates from the Old French term "doble", which is derived from the Latin word "duplus", meaning "twofold" or "double". "Duplus" itself comes from the combination of the Latin prefix "duo", meaning "two", and the suffix "-plus", meaning "more".
2. Stain: The term "stain" comes from the Old Norse word "steina", meaning "to color" or "to dye". This Old Norse word was later adopted into Middle English as "steynen" and eventually became "stain" in its current spelling.