Neurons can be traced in this manner or cells during development to see what organs they produce. Light microscopy allows us to see structures that are as small as 1.0 micron. It can have a resolution of 0.5 nm. and can see very large molecules. The scanning electron microscope can see 3-D by coating cells with metal, removing the specimen and visualizing the metal. It has a resolution of about 10 nm.
Cell culture is useful in many areas.
With this technique we can study how cells work, grow viruses and identify them, do genetic studies, and make hybridomas. Even slices of tissues as brain tissue can be kept alive for a short period of time, but long enough to study. Biochemical Analysis Numerous chemicals can be measured from ground cells and tissues and sometimes from microtomed cells. Nitrogen balance, NAD, NADP, DNA, RNA, etc. can be estimated in situ . Chromatography can separate out chemicals such as proteins, amino acids, etc.