Fluorescence and its limits

MBG Türkiye / journal

Fluorescent labels make selected structures visible by emitting light under particular illumination. The resulting colors are often assigned during image processing, so they should not be confused with the sample's everyday appearance.

Signal strength is shaped by labeling, optics and acquisition settings. Brightness alone is not a direct measure of how much of a molecule is present unless the experiment is designed for that purpose.

A caption that explains the label and scale gives an image scientific meaning beyond its visual impact.