Microscopy Techniques and Comparative Resolutions
| Technique | Lateral Resolution(nm) | Axial Resolution(nm) | Platform | Fluorochrome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Widefield | ~200-300 | ~500-700 | Widefield | Standard |
| CLSM | ~150-220 | ~360-500 | Confocal | Standard |
| SIM | ~100-120 | ~350-400 | Widefield | Standard |
| STED | ~70-90 | ~100-200 | Confocal | Photostable |
| PALM | ~20-50 | ~10-70 | Widefield | Switchable |
| STED – lateral and axial resolutions of ~ 50nm and ~90nm can be achieved when using dyes resistent to photobleaching. | ||||
(Table adapted from: Kubalová I, Němečková A, Weisshart K, Hřibová E, Schubert V. Comparing Super-Resolution Microscopy Techniques to Analyze Chromosomes. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Feb 14;22(4):1903. doi: 10.3390/ijms22041903. PMID: 33672992; PMCID: PMC7917581.)
Background Information on Microscopy
iBiology – presents a series of short videos on light microscopy.
Molecular Expressions – Exploring the world of optics and microscopy.
Education in Microscopy and Digital Imaging – Presented by Zeiss, a series of articles and interactive pages from basic to advanced topics in microscopy.
Microscopy U – The source for microscopy education.
Cell Analysis Resource Center
ThermoFisher Scientific – Resource for basic principles about cell analysis, applications, and techniques.