Article Abstracts | August 2007
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Spectral Methods for Biological Analysis
Electron-multiplying CCD cameras offer a new approach to quantitative biological microscopy.
by Karl Garsha, Photometrics
An exciting development in light microscopy is the increasing availability of signal detection systems that record high-resolution emission spectra at each pixel in an image. These systems can be used for biological applications such as distinguishing the identities and relative contributions of fluorochromes with overlapping emission profiles.
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In practice, spectral imaging methods are limited by the sensitivity, fidelity and stability of the data-acquisition hardware. For many years, laser point-scanning instruments based on photomultiplier tubes have been the most popular choice for acquiring spectral data from biological samples. This type of instrumentation affords excellent optical sectioning capabilities, albeit at the expense of overall light-collection efficiency...
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