Its use for detecting DNA in plant, metazoa and bacteria cells and virus particles was demonstrated in the late 1970s, and quantitative staining of DNA inside cells was demonstrated in 1977.
O seu uso para detectar o ADN en células de plantas, metazoos e bacterias e partículas de virus foi demostrado a finais da década de 1970, e a tinguidura cuantitativa do ADN no interior das células demostrouse en 1977.