5.2 Fluorescence microscopy allows visualising dynamic processes

Fluorescence microscopy is a powerful tool for observing dynamic processes like the movement of mitochondria inside cells (Video 2).

While you might picture mitochondria as many small, oval-shaped structures scattered throughout the cell, fluorescence imaging reveals that in many cases, they actually form an interconnected, network-like structure. This network is often in motion, constantly changing shape and position. As a result, the simplified appearance of mitochondria in static micrographs doesn’t fully reflect their complex and dynamic nature.

Visualising these dynamic processes greatly helps with the understanding how a cell functions. Comparing how such processes are affected for example in the context of a disease can help to understand how diseases develop and affect cellular behavior.