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This is a searchable collection of scientific photos, illustrations, and videos. The images and videos in this gallery are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial ShareAlike 3.0. This license lets you remix, tweak, and build upon this work non-commercially, as long as you credit and license your new creations under identical terms.
6557: Floral pattern in a mixture of two bacterial species, Acinetobacter baylyi and Escherichia coli, grown on a semi-solid agar for 24 hours
6557: Floral pattern in a mixture of two bacterial species, Acinetobacter baylyi and Escherichia coli, grown on a semi-solid agar for 24 hours
Floral pattern emerging as two bacterial species, motile Acinetobacter baylyi and non-motile Escherichia coli (green), are grown together for 24 hours on 0.75% agar surface from a small inoculum in the center of a Petri dish.
See 6553 for a photo of this process at 48 hours on 1% agar surface.
See 6555 for another photo of this process at 48 hours on 1% agar surface.
See 6556 for a photo of this process at 72 hours on 0.5% agar surface.
See 6550 for a video of this process.
See 6553 for a photo of this process at 48 hours on 1% agar surface.
See 6555 for another photo of this process at 48 hours on 1% agar surface.
See 6556 for a photo of this process at 72 hours on 0.5% agar surface.
See 6550 for a video of this process.
L. Xiong et al, eLife 2020;9: e48885
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3494: How cilia do the wave
3494: How cilia do the wave
Thin, hair-like biological structures called cilia are tiny but mighty. Each one, made up of more than 600 different proteins, works together with hundreds of others in a tightly-packed layer to move like a crowd at a ball game doing "the wave." Their synchronized motion helps sweep mucus from the lungs and usher eggs from the ovaries into the uterus. By controlling how fluid flows around an embryo, cilia also help ensure that organs like the heart develop on the correct side of your body.
Zvonimir Dogic, Brandeis University
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2489: Immune cell attacks cell infected with a retrovirus
2489: Immune cell attacks cell infected with a retrovirus
T cells engulf and digest cells displaying markers (or antigens) for retroviruses, such as HIV.
Kristy Whitehouse, science illustrator
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3278: Induced pluripotent stem cells from skin
3278: Induced pluripotent stem cells from skin
These induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) were derived from a woman's skin. Green and red indicate proteins found in reprogrammed cells but not in skin cells (TRA1-62 and NANOG). These cells can then develop into different cell types. Image and caption information courtesy of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Related to image 3279.
Kathrin Plath lab, University of California, Los Angeles, via CIRM
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6762: CCP enzyme
6762: CCP enzyme
The enzyme CCP is found in the mitochondria of baker’s yeast. Scientists study the chemical reactions that CCP triggers, which involve a water molecule, iron, and oxygen. This structure was determined using an X-ray free electron laser.
Protein Data Bank.
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6593: Cell-like compartments from frog eggs 6
6593: Cell-like compartments from frog eggs 6
Cell-like compartments that spontaneously emerged from scrambled frog eggs, with nuclei (blue) from frog sperm. Endoplasmic reticulum (red) and microtubules (green) are also visible. Image created using confocal microscopy.
For more photos of cell-like compartments from frog eggs view: 6584, 6585, 6586, 6591, 6592.
For videos of cell-like compartments from frog eggs view: 6587, 6588, 6589, and 6590.
Xianrui Cheng, Stanford University School of Medicine.
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6991: SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid dimer
6991: SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid dimer
In SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, nucleocapsid is a complex molecule with many functional parts. One section folds into an RNA-binding domain, with a groove that grips a short segment of the viral genomic RNA. Another section folds into a dimerization domain that brings two nucleocapsid molecules together. The rest of the protein is intrinsically disordered, forming tails at each end of the protein chain and a flexible linker that connects the two structured domains. These disordered regions assist with RNA binding and orchestrate association of nucleocapsid dimers into larger assemblies that package the RNA in the small space inside virions. Nucleocapsid is in magenta and purple, and short RNA strands are in yellow.
Find these in the RCSB Protein Data Bank: RNA-binding domain (PDB entry 7ACT) and Dimerization domain (PDB entry 6WJI).
Find these in the RCSB Protein Data Bank: RNA-binding domain (PDB entry 7ACT) and Dimerization domain (PDB entry 6WJI).
Amy Wu and Christine Zardecki, RCSB Protein Data Bank.
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3489: Worm sperm
3489: Worm sperm
To develop a system for studying cell motility in unnatrual conditions -- a microscope slide instead of the body -- Tom Roberts and Katsuya Shimabukuro at Florida State University disassembled and reconstituted the motility parts used by worm sperm cells.
Tom Roberts, Florida State University
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6770: Group of Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito larvae
6770: Group of Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito larvae
Mosquito larvae with genes edited by CRISPR. This species of mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus, can transmit West Nile virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, and avian malaria, among other diseases. The researchers who took this image developed a gene-editing toolkit for Culex quinquefasciatus that could ultimately help stop the mosquitoes from spreading pathogens. The work is described in the Nature Communications paper "Optimized CRISPR tools and site-directed transgenesis towards gene drive development in Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes" by Feng et al. Related to image 6769 and video 6771.
Valentino Gantz, University of California, San Diego.
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3621: Q fever bacteria in an infected cell
3621: Q fever bacteria in an infected cell
This image shows Q fever bacteria (yellow), which infect cows, sheep, and goats around the world and can infect humans, as well. When caught early, Q fever can be cured with antibiotics. A small fraction of people can develop a more serious, chronic form of the disease.
This image was part of the Life: Magnified exhibit that ran from June 3, 2014, to January 21, 2015, at Dulles International Airport.
This image was part of the Life: Magnified exhibit that ran from June 3, 2014, to January 21, 2015, at Dulles International Airport.
Robert Heinzen, Elizabeth Fischer, and Anita Mora, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health
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2603: Induced stem cells from adult skin 01
2603: Induced stem cells from adult skin 01
These cells are induced stem cells made from human adult skin cells that were genetically reprogrammed to mimic embryonic stem cells. The induced stem cells were made potentially safer by removing the introduced genes and the viral vector used to ferry genes into the cells, a loop of DNA called a plasmid. The work was accomplished by geneticist Junying Yu in the laboratory of James Thomson, a University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health professor and the director of regenerative biology for the Morgridge Institute for Research.
James Thomson, University of Wisconsin-Madison
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2684: Dicty fruit
2684: Dicty fruit
Dictyostelium discoideum is a microscopic amoeba. A group of 100,000 form a mound as big as a grain of sand. Featured in The New Genetics.
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3428: Antitoxin GhoS (Illustration 2)
3428: Antitoxin GhoS (Illustration 2)
Structure of the bacterial antitoxin protein GhoS. GhoS inhibits the production of a bacterial toxin, GhoT, which can contribute to antibiotic resistance. GhoS is the first known bacterial antitoxin that works by cleaving the messenger RNA that carries the instructions for making the toxin. More information can be found in the paper: Wang X, Lord DM, Cheng HY, Osbourne DO, Hong SH, Sanchez-Torres V, Quiroga C, Zheng K, Herrmann T, Peti W, Benedik MJ, Page R, Wood TK. A new type V toxin-antitoxin system where mRNA for toxin GhoT is cleaved by antitoxin GhoS. Nat Chem Biol. 2012 Oct;8(10):855-61. Related to 3427.
Rebecca Page and Wolfgang Peti, Brown University and Thomas K. Wood, Pennsylvania State University
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2308: Cellular metropolis
2308: Cellular metropolis
Like a major city, a cell teems with specialized workers that carry out its daily operations--making energy, moving proteins, or helping with other tasks. Researchers took microscopic pictures of thin layers of a cell and then combined them to make this 3-D image featuring color-coded organelles--the cell's "workers." Using this image, scientists can understand how these specialized components fit together in the cell's packed inner world.
Kathryn Howell, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
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6777: Human endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein complex
6777: Human endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein complex
A 3D model of the human endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein complex (EMC) that identifies its nine essential subunits. The EMC plays an important role in making membrane proteins, which are essential for all cellular processes. This is the first atomic-level depiction of the EMC. Its structure was obtained using single-particle cryo-electron microscopy.
Rebecca Voorhees, California Institute of Technology.
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6851: Himastatin, 360-degree view
6851: Himastatin, 360-degree view
A 360-degree view of the molecule himastatin, which was first isolated from the bacterium Streptomyces himastatinicus. Himastatin shows antibiotic activity. The researchers who created this video developed a new, more concise way to synthesize himastatin so it can be studied more easily.
More information about the research that produced this video can be found in the Science paper “Total synthesis of himastatin” by D’Angelo et al.
Related to images 6848 and 6850.
More information about the research that produced this video can be found in the Science paper “Total synthesis of himastatin” by D’Angelo et al.
Related to images 6848 and 6850.
Mohammad Movassaghi, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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2530: Aspirin (with labels)
2530: Aspirin (with labels)
Acetylsalicylate (bottom) is the aspirin of today. Adding a chemical tag called an acetyl group (shaded box, bottom) to a molecule derived from willow bark (salicylate, top) makes the molecule less acidic (and easier on the lining of the digestive tract), but still effective at relieving pain. See image 2529 for an unlabeled version of this illustration. Featured in Medicines By Design.
Crabtree + Company
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3746: Serum albumin structure 3
3746: Serum albumin structure 3
Serum albumin (SA) is the most abundant protein in the blood plasma of mammals. SA has a characteristic heart-shape structure and is a highly versatile protein. It helps maintain normal water levels in our tissues and carries almost half of all calcium ions in human blood. SA also transports some hormones, nutrients and metals throughout the bloodstream. Despite being very similar to our own SA, those from other animals can cause some mild allergies in people. Therefore, some scientists study SAs from humans and other mammals to learn more about what subtle structural or other differences cause immune responses in the body.
Related to entries 3744 and 3745.
Related to entries 3744 and 3745.
Wladek Minor, University of Virginia
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2514: Life of an AIDS virus (with labels)
2514: Life of an AIDS virus (with labels)
HIV is a retrovirus, a type of virus that carries its genetic material not as DNA but as RNA. Long before anyone had heard of HIV, researchers in labs all over the world studied retroviruses, tracing out their life cycle and identifying the key proteins the viruses use to infect cells. When HIV was identified as a retrovirus, these studies gave AIDS researchers an immediate jump-start. The previously identified viral proteins became initial drug targets. See images 2513 and 2515 for other versions of this illustration. Featured in The Structures of Life.
Crabtree + Company
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6518: Biofilm formed by a pathogen
6518: Biofilm formed by a pathogen
A biofilm is a highly organized community of microorganisms that develops naturally on certain surfaces. These communities are common in natural environments and generally do not pose any danger to humans. Many microbes in biofilms have a positive impact on the planet and our societies. Biofilms can be helpful in treatment of wastewater, for example. This dime-sized biofilm, however, was formed by the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Under some conditions, this bacterium can infect wounds that are caused by severe burns. The bacterial cells release a variety of materials to form an extracellular matrix, which is stained red in this photograph. The matrix holds the biofilm together and protects the bacteria from antibiotics and the immune system.
Scott Chimileski, Ph.D., and Roberto Kolter, Ph.D., Harvard Medical School.
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3593: Isolated Planarian Pharynx
3593: Isolated Planarian Pharynx
The feeding tube, or pharynx, of a planarian worm with cilia shown in red and muscle fibers shown in green
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2506: Carbon building blocks
2506: Carbon building blocks
The arrangement of identical molecular components can make a dramatic difference. For example, carbon atoms can be arranged into dull graphite (left) or sparkly diamonds (right). See image 2507 for an illustration with examples.
Crabtree + Company
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2522: Enzymes convert subtrates into products (with labels)
2522: Enzymes convert subtrates into products (with labels)
Enzymes convert substrates into products very quickly. See image 2521 for an unlabeled version of this illustration. Featured in The Chemistry of Health.
Crabtree + Company
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3498: Wound healing in process
3498: Wound healing in process
Wound healing requires the action of stem cells. In mice that lack the Sept2/ARTS gene, stem cells involved in wound healing live longer and wounds heal faster and more thoroughly than in normal mice. This confocal microscopy image from a mouse lacking the Sept2/ARTS gene shows a tail wound in the process of healing. See more information in the article in Science.
Related to images 3497 and 3500.
Related to images 3497 and 3500.
Hermann Steller, Rockefeller University
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2337: Beta2-adrenergic receptor protein
2337: Beta2-adrenergic receptor protein
Crystal structure of the beta2-adrenergic receptor protein. This is the first known structure of a human G protein-coupled receptor, a large family of proteins that control critical bodily functions and the action of about half of today's pharmaceuticals. Featured as one of the November 2007 Protein Structure Initiative Structures of the Month.
The Stevens Laboratory, The Scripps Research Institute
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6810: Fruit fly ovarioles
6810: Fruit fly ovarioles
Three fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) ovarioles (yellow, blue, and magenta) with egg cells visible inside them. Ovarioles are tubes in the reproductive systems of female insects. Egg cells form at one end of an ovariole and complete their development as they reach the other end, as shown in the yellow wild-type ovariole. This process requires an important protein that is missing in the blue and magenta ovarioles. This image was created using confocal microscopy.
More information on the research that produced this image can be found in the Current Biology paper “Gatekeeper function for Short stop at the ring canals of the Drosophila ovary” by Lu et al.
More information on the research that produced this image can be found in the Current Biology paper “Gatekeeper function for Short stop at the ring canals of the Drosophila ovary” by Lu et al.
Vladimir I. Gelfand, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University.
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2727: Proteins related to myotonic dystrophy
2727: Proteins related to myotonic dystrophy
Myotonic dystrophy is thought to be caused by the binding of a protein called Mbnl1 to abnormal RNA repeats. In these two images of the same muscle precursor cell, the top image shows the location of the Mbnl1 splicing factor (green) and the bottom image shows the location of RNA repeats (red) inside the cell nucleus (blue). The white arrows point to two large foci in the cell nucleus where Mbnl1 is sequestered with RNA.
Manuel Ares, University of California, Santa Cruz
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1060: Protein crystals
1060: Protein crystals
Structural biologists create crystals of proteins, shown here, as a first step in a process called X-ray crystallography, which can reveal detailed, three-dimensional protein structures.
Alex McPherson, University of California, Irvine
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6794: Yeast cells with Fimbrin Fim1
6794: Yeast cells with Fimbrin Fim1
Yeast cells with the protein Fimbrin Fim1 shown in magenta. This protein plays a role in cell division. This image was captured using wide-field microscopy with deconvolution.
Related to images 6791, 6792, 6793, 6797, 6798, and videos 6795 and 6796.
Related to images 6791, 6792, 6793, 6797, 6798, and videos 6795 and 6796.
Alaina Willet, Kathy Gould’s lab, Vanderbilt University.
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7004: Protein kinases as cancer chemotherapy targets
7004: Protein kinases as cancer chemotherapy targets
Protein kinases—enzymes that add phosphate groups to molecules—are cancer chemotherapy targets because they play significant roles in almost all aspects of cell function, are tightly regulated, and contribute to the development of cancer and other diseases if any alterations to their regulation occur. Genetic abnormalities affecting the c-Abl tyrosine kinase are linked to chronic myelogenous leukemia, a cancer of immature cells in the bone marrow. In the noncancerous form of the protein, binding of a myristoyl group to the kinase domain inhibits the activity of the protein until it is needed (top left shows the inactive form, top right shows the open and active form). The cancerous variant of the protein, called Bcr-Abl, lacks this autoinhibitory myristoyl group and is continually active (bottom). ATP is shown in green bound in the active site of the kinase.
Find these in the RCSB Protein Data Bank: c-Abl tyrosine kinase and regulatory domains (PDB entry 1OPL) and F-actin binding domain (PDB entry 1ZZP).
Find these in the RCSB Protein Data Bank: c-Abl tyrosine kinase and regulatory domains (PDB entry 1OPL) and F-actin binding domain (PDB entry 1ZZP).
Amy Wu and Christine Zardecki, RCSB Protein Data Bank.
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2667: Glowing fish
2667: Glowing fish
Professor Marc Zimmer's family pets, including these fish, glow in the dark in response to blue light. Featured in the September 2009 issue of Findings.
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3687: Hippocampal neuron in culture
3687: Hippocampal neuron in culture
Hippocampal neuron in culture. Dendrites are green, dendritic spines are red and DNA in cell's nucleus is blue. Image is featured on Biomedical Beat blog post Anesthesia and Brain Cells: A Temporary Disruption?
Shelley Halpain, UC San Diego
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5825: A Growing Bacterial Biofilm
5825: A Growing Bacterial Biofilm
A growing Vibrio cholerae (cholera) biofilm. Cholera bacteria form colonies called biofilms that enable them to resist antibiotic therapy within the body and other challenges to their growth.
Each slightly curved comma shape represents an individual bacterium from assembled confocal microscopy images. Different colors show each bacterium’s position in the biofilm in relation to the surface on which the film is growing.
Each slightly curved comma shape represents an individual bacterium from assembled confocal microscopy images. Different colors show each bacterium’s position in the biofilm in relation to the surface on which the film is growing.
Jing Yan, Ph.D., and Bonnie Bassler, Ph.D., Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ.
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3539: Structure of heme, top view
3539: Structure of heme, top view
Molecular model of the struture of heme. Heme is a small, flat molecule with an iron ion (dark red) at its center. Heme is an essential component of hemoglobin, the protein in blood that carries oxygen throughout our bodies. This image first appeared in the September 2013 issue of Findings Magazine. View side view of heme here 3540.
Rachel Kramer Green, RCSB Protein Data Bank
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2523: Plasma membrane
2523: Plasma membrane
The plasma membrane is a cell's protective barrier. See image 2524 for a labeled version of this illustration. Featured in The Chemistry of Health.
Crabtree + Company
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5772: Confocal microscopy image of two Drosophila ovarioles
5772: Confocal microscopy image of two Drosophila ovarioles
Ovarioles in female insects are tubes in which egg cells (called oocytes) form at one end and complete their development as they reach the other end of the tube. This image, taken with a confocal microscope, shows ovarioles in a very popular lab animal, the fruit fly Drosophila. The basic structure of ovarioles supports very rapid egg production, with some insects (like termites) producing several thousand eggs per day. Each insect ovary typically contains four to eight ovarioles, but this number varies widely depending on the insect species.
Scientists use insect ovarioles, for example, to study the basic processes that help various insects, including those that cause disease (like some mosquitos and biting flies), reproduce very quickly.
Scientists use insect ovarioles, for example, to study the basic processes that help various insects, including those that cause disease (like some mosquitos and biting flies), reproduce very quickly.
2004 Olympus BioScapes Competition
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6592: Cell-like compartments from frog eggs 5
6592: Cell-like compartments from frog eggs 5
Cell-like compartments that spontaneously emerged from scrambled frog eggs, with nuclei (blue) from frog sperm. Endoplasmic reticulum (red) and microtubules (green) are also visible. Image created using confocal microscopy.
For more photos of cell-like compartments from frog eggs view: 6584, 6585, 6586, 6591, and 6593.
For videos of cell-like compartments from frog eggs view: 6587, 6588, 6589, and 6590.
Xianrui Cheng, Stanford University School of Medicine.
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2801: Trajectories of labeled cell receptors
2771: Self-organizing proteins
2771: Self-organizing proteins
Under the microscope, an E. coli cell lights up like a fireball. Each bright dot marks a surface protein that tells the bacteria to move toward or away from nearby food and toxins. Using a new imaging technique, researchers can map the proteins one at a time and combine them into a single image. This lets them study patterns within and among protein clusters in bacterial cells, which don't have nuclei or organelles like plant and animal cells. Seeing how the proteins arrange themselves should help researchers better understand how cell signaling works.
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7016: Pores on the surface of the Hawaiian bobtail squid light organ
7016: Pores on the surface of the Hawaiian bobtail squid light organ
The light organ (~0.5 mm across) of a juvenile Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, stained blue. The two pairs of ciliated appendages, or “arms,” on the sides of the organ move Vibrio fischeri bacterial cells closer to the two sets of three pores at the base of the arms that each lead to an interior crypt. This image was taken using a confocal fluorescence microscope.
Related to images 7017, 7018, 7019, and 7020.
Related to images 7017, 7018, 7019, and 7020.
Margaret J. McFall-Ngai, Carnegie Institution for Science/California Institute of Technology, and Edward G. Ruby, California Institute of Technology.
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3520: HeLa cells
3520: HeLa cells
Multiphoton fluorescence image of HeLa cells with cytoskeletal microtubules (magenta) and DNA (cyan). Nikon RTS2000MP custom laser scanning microscope. See related images 3518, 3519, 3521, 3522.
National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research (NCMIR)
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1272: Cytoskeleton
1272: Cytoskeleton
The three fibers of the cytoskeleton--microtubules in blue, intermediate filaments in red, and actin in green--play countless roles in the cell.
Judith Stoffer
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6931: Mouse brain 3
6931: Mouse brain 3
Various views of a mouse brain that was genetically modified so that subpopulations of its neurons glow. Researchers often study mice because they share many genes with people and can shed light on biological processes, development, and diseases in humans.
This video was captured using a light sheet microscope.
Related to images 6929 and 6930.
This video was captured using a light sheet microscope.
Related to images 6929 and 6930.
Prayag Murawala, MDI Biological Laboratory and Hannover Medical School.
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6598: Simulation of leg muscles moving
6598: Simulation of leg muscles moving
When we walk, muscles and nerves interact in intricate ways. This simulation, which is based on data from a six-foot-tall man, shows these interactions.
Chand John and Eran Guendelman, Stanford University
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2374: Protein from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicam
2374: Protein from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicam
A knotted protein from an archaebacterium called Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicam. This organism breaks down waste products and produces methane gas. Protein folding theory previously held that forming a knot was beyond the ability of a protein, but this structure, determined at Argonne's Structural Biology Center, proves differently. Researchers theorize that this knot stabilizes the amino acid subunits of the protein.
Midwest Center For Structural Genomics, PSI
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3632: Developing nerve cells
3632: Developing nerve cells
These developing mouse nerve cells have a nucleus (yellow) surrounded by a cell body, with long extensions called axons and thin branching structures called dendrites. Electrical signals travel from the axon of one cell to the dendrites of another.
This image was part of the Life: Magnified exhibit that ran from June 3, 2014, to January 21, 2015, at Dulles International Airport.
This image was part of the Life: Magnified exhibit that ran from June 3, 2014, to January 21, 2015, at Dulles International Airport.
Torsten Wittmann, University of California, San Francisco
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3734: Molecular interactions at the astrocyte nuclear membrane
3734: Molecular interactions at the astrocyte nuclear membrane
These ripples of color represent the outer membrane of the nucleus inside an astrocyte, a star-shaped cell inside the brain. Some proteins (green) act as keys to unlock other proteins (red) that form gates to let small molecules in and out of the nucleus (blue). Visualizing these different cell components at the boundary of the astrocyte nucleus enables researchers to study the molecular and physiological basis of neurological disorders, such as hydrocephalus, a condition in which too much fluid accumulates in the brain, and scar formation in brain tissue leading to abnormal neuronal activity affecting learning and memory. Scientists have now identified a pathway may be common to many of these brain diseases and begun to further examine it to find ways to treat certain brain diseases and injuries.
Katerina Akassoglou, Gladstone Institute for Neurological Disease & UCSF
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3306: Planarian stem cell colony
3306: Planarian stem cell colony
Planarians are freshwater flatworms that have powerful abilities to regenerate their bodies, which would seem to make them natural model organisms in which to study stem cells. But until recently, scientists had not been able to efficiently find the genes that regulate the planarian stem cell system. In this image, a single stem cell has given rise to a colony of stem cells in a planarian. Proliferating cells are red, and differentiating cells are blue. Quantitatively measuring the size and ratios of these two cell types provides a powerful framework for studying the roles of stem cell regulatory genes in planarians.
Peter Reddien, Whitehead Institute
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2333: Worms and human infertility
2333: Worms and human infertility
This montage of tiny, transparent C. elegans--or roundworms--may offer insight into understanding human infertility. Researchers used fluorescent dyes to label the worm cells and watch the process of sex cell division, called meiosis, unfold as nuclei (blue) move through the tube-like gonads. Such visualization helps the scientists identify mechanisms that enable these roundworms to reproduce successfully. Because meiosis is similar in all sexually reproducing organisms, what the scientists learn could apply to humans.
Abby Dernburg, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
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2607: Mouse embryo showing Smad4 protein
2607: Mouse embryo showing Smad4 protein
This eerily glowing blob isn't an alien or a creature from the deep sea--it's a mouse embryo just eight and a half days old. The green shell and core show a protein called Smad4. In the center, Smad4 is telling certain cells to begin forming the mouse's liver and pancreas. Researchers identified a trio of signaling pathways that help switch on Smad4-making genes, starting immature cells on the path to becoming organs. The research could help biologists learn how to grow human liver and pancreas tissue for research, drug testing and regenerative medicine. In addition to NIGMS, NIH's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases also supported this work.
Kenneth Zaret, Fox Chase Cancer Center
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