FLUORESCENCE MICROSCOPE Meaning and
Definition
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A fluorescence microscope is a specialized optical instrument used in biological research and medical diagnostics that enables the visualization and analysis of fluorescently-labeled specimens. It utilizes the properties of fluorescence, which is the emission of light of a longer wavelength by a substance when it absorbs light of a shorter wavelength.
The basic components of a fluorescence microscope include a light source, such as a high-intensity lamp or laser, which emits an excitation wavelength that can excite fluorophores in the specimen. The emitted light is then focused onto the specimen using optical lenses and filters designed to specifically transmit the excitation wavelength while blocking the scattered one.
When the excitation wavelength interacts with the fluorophores present in the specimen, they absorb the excitation energy, causing them to transition to an excited state. Shortly after, they return to their ground state, releasing the excess energy in the form of fluorescence. This emitted light is then separated from the excitation light using filters in the microscope, allowing only the fluorescence to pass through to the detectors.
Fluorescence microscopy enables researchers to visualize and study various biological structures and processes that are labeled with fluorescent markers. This technique has a wide range of applications, including examining cellular structures, protein-protein interactions, gene expression, and localization of specific molecules within cells or tissues. Fluorescence microscopes have revolutionized the field of molecular biology, allowing researchers to probe into the intricate world of cellular function and unravel the mysteries of life at a microscopic level.
Common Misspellings for FLUORESCENCE MICROSCOPE
- dluorescence microscope
- cluorescence microscope
- vluorescence microscope
- gluorescence microscope
- tluorescence microscope
- rluorescence microscope
- fkuorescence microscope
- fpuorescence microscope
- fouorescence microscope
- flyorescence microscope
- flhorescence microscope
- fljorescence microscope
- fliorescence microscope
- fl8orescence microscope
- fl7orescence microscope
- fluirescence microscope
- flukrescence microscope
- flulrescence microscope
- fluprescence microscope
- flu0rescence microscope
Etymology of FLUORESCENCE MICROSCOPE
The word "fluorescence" originates from the Latin term "fluorescere", which means "to flow". It was first coined by the British physicist Sir George G. Stokes in 1852 to describe the phenomenon of certain materials emitting light when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The word "microscope" comes from the Greek words "mikros", meaning "small", and "skopein", meaning "to look at". The term "fluorescence microscope" thus refers to a microscope that utilizes fluorescence to visualize specimens.
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