New imaging method reportedly tracks cell signals across a living fish
SCIENCEUnverifiedUpdated:
Researchers reportedly can now follow calcium signaling across nearly every cell in living transparent fish, rather than examining communication between body systems separately.
Whole-body imaging through calcium signals
A team described WHOLISTIC, a whole-organism live-imaging system that uses genetically engineered fluorescent calcium sensors. The sensors light up as cellular calcium levels change, allowing real-time imaging across larval zebrafish and adult Danionella cerebrum, according to the report.
Cellular responses in different body systems were difficult to observe together and were traditionally studied in isolation.
A reported whole-organism imaging method now records cellular activity across a living transparent fish's body, second by second.
Calcium is widely used in cellular signaling. The reported ability to track it across organs in one living animal offers a way to study interactions that isolated organ measurements can miss.
Sources
- ScienceAlertFor The First Time, Watch Cells Communicate Across an Entire Living BodyRead source →