2017-05-15

[unlisted] 7.26K views, 312 likes, 2.00 dislikes audio only

The Thought Emporium

Since the invention of the microscope, we've been looking for better and better ways to see into the microscopic world. At first we used simple dyes to colour particular parts of a cell to make the pieces more clear. But as time went on we demanded something better. Enter immunofluorescent imaging. By combining a fluorescent dye and targeting molecule (an antibody), it's possible to specifically target a protein inside or out of a cell and make it glow, showing exactly where it is. This technique is being taken further by using these sorts of systems to tag cancer and make it glow under a uv light. This allows surgeons to find tumours they'd otherwise miss. This video is the first in a series where we'll be making such a system and this video covers the first step; converting fluorescein into a more useful form that can be attached to something else.

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Thanks to:

-Jesse Hughes

-Roshawn Terrel

-Anita Fowler

-Terry Fuller

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