title: Basic confocal microscopy.
abstract: This unit introduces the reader to the basic principles of confocal microscopy and the design and capabilities of current confocal microscopes. The advantages and disadvantages of confocal microscopy as compared to other techniques for fluorescence imaging are described. There are also practical guidelines for sample preparation and optimizing imaging parameters and examples of some of the applications of confocal microscopy.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Carolyn L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000378:metabolism; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015003:Yeasts / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins