Monday, October 27, 2014
2014 Nobel Prize for the development of higher resolution microscopic technology
http://www.npr.org/2014/10/08/354511750/3-win-nobel-prize-in-chemistry
Source: NPR News
Date: October 8, 2014
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded this year's Nobel Prize in chemistry to Eric Betzig, William Moerner, and Stefan Hell for their "development of super-resolved fluorescence microscopy". For a long time, the limit for maximum resolution was .2 micrometers, but using this technology, known as nanoscopy, you can see down to the molecule in living cells. This breakthrough allows them to study how these molecules function. The three scientists used this to further understand synapses between the brain and nerves, proteins related to Huntington's disease, and cell division inside embryos.
This relates to our biochemistry unit because nanoscopy allows scientists to observe how molecules react and function in living cells. For example, this technology can be used to study the reaction between catalase and hydrogen peroxide with a higher resolution picture of how the molecules react.
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Now that scientists can see down to the molecules in living cells, which development/technology do you think will come next that will help scientists further understand life?
ReplyDeleteI couldn't find an answer to your question, but I predict that there will be an advancement in medicine. Once they could see living cells in higher resolution, they used this to look into diseases and understand how they work. This could lead to new treatments for diseases.
DeleteWhat are some of the cons of using nanoscopy? Could this harm us in any way?
ReplyDeleteAfter researching, I couldn't find an answer to your question. It seems that implanting these fluorescent molecules inside cells doesn't affect the cells functioning because they are still able to observe the living cell, but as for long term effects, there aren't any prominent issues at the moment.
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