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Art of Science Gallery 05

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Zeiss Axioobserver with the Apotome

Matthew Leslie

Rex Gaskins and Paul Kenis Laboratories



Funded by the NIH



This image shows human mammary gland cells expressing a genetically-encoded fluorescent dye. The dye is designed to respond to the metabolic state of structures inside the cell; in this case, it is labelling mitochondria, the energy-generating structures used by plant, animal, and fungal cells. Images like this one show how abundant mitochondria are inside the cell, and the complexity of their activity. This research offers novel insight into basic cellular functions that are altered in cancer.