Time-lapse microscopy
Encyclopedia
Time-lapse microscopy is microscopy
in which the same object (e.g., a cell
) is photographed at regular time intervals over several hours.
Live-cell imaging often involves time-lapse microscopy to monitor cell movements. Modern approaches are extending these observations beyond making movies of cell structure. Increasingly, time-lapse imaging is being integrated with specialized techniques for monitoring, measuring, and perturbing dynamic activities of cells and subcellular structures.
Some hardware developers provide software development kit
s and API
references to work with their tools.
Third party companies and communities develop their own applications and software tools.
Microscopy
Microscopy is the technical field of using microscopes to view samples and objects that cannot be seen with the unaided eye...
in which the same object (e.g., a cell
Cell (biology)
The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all known living organisms. It is the smallest unit of life that is classified as a living thing, and is often called the building block of life. The Alberts text discusses how the "cellular building blocks" move to shape developing embryos....
) is photographed at regular time intervals over several hours.
Live-cell imaging often involves time-lapse microscopy to monitor cell movements. Modern approaches are extending these observations beyond making movies of cell structure. Increasingly, time-lapse imaging is being integrated with specialized techniques for monitoring, measuring, and perturbing dynamic activities of cells and subcellular structures.
Hardware
Time-lapse microscopy usually involves several tools:- Microscope
- Photo camera. Can be used universal digital cameras or specialized digital cameraDigital cameraA digital camera is a camera that takes video or still photographs, or both, digitally by recording images via an electronic image sensor. It is the main device used in the field of digital photography...
s. - IncubatorIncubator (laboratory device)In biology, an incubator is a device used to grow and maintain of course microbiological cultures or cell cultures. The incubator maintains optimal temperature, humidity and other conditions such as the carbon dioxide and oxygen content of the atmosphere inside...
supports cell's environment (temperature, СO2, H2O) in necessary state.
Software
Hardware developers may provide software for use with their tools.- Incubator controlling application
- Photo camera controlling application
- Imaging and analysis applications
Some hardware developers provide software development kit
Software development kit
A software development kit is typically a set of software development tools that allows for the creation of applications for a certain software package, software framework, hardware platform, computer system, video game console, operating system, or similar platform.It may be something as simple...
s and API
Application programming interface
An application programming interface is a source code based specification intended to be used as an interface by software components to communicate with each other...
references to work with their tools.
Third party companies and communities develop their own applications and software tools.