Imaging Core Facility Biozentrum Basel

Light microscopy is currently experiencing a renaissance. A wide range of highly sophisticated light microscopes allows various insights into a living organism. The Imaging Core Facility provides researchers with technical support for imaging procedures and data analysis.

Imaging procedures are becoming increasingly important in all fields of biological research. The center for light microscopy, the Imaging Core Facility, offers a technology platform for the use of highly developed light microscopes. Our services range from initial advice in selecting the right microscope for the experiment and setting up the specific system, up to the final analysis of the image data. Our aim is to support research groups in their work, with the latest microscopy techniques and software solutions.

Resurgence of light microscopy

Light microscopy has been developing rapidly since the beginning of the century: Green fluorescent protein (GFP), introduced more than ten years ago as a fluorescent protein marker, can be used with the light microscope to track directly the spatial and temporal distribution of proteins in living cells, tissues and organs. The enormous advances in computer technology allow us to analyze ever greater quantities of data and to automate the imaging. Today’s microscopes include highly complex programming and in many respects they are similar to robots. In recent years, super resolution microscopes have been used to examine areas which were previously only accessible to the electron microscope. Doubling the resolution means that even the smallest cell structures can be seen “live” with the light microscope.