A nanoscopic needle and a mass spectrometer reveal the contents of individual cells.
© GEORGE RETSECK
To analyze the small-molecule components of an individual cell, a tiny capillary needle sucks material from the cytoplasm. After mixing the contents with an ionization solution, an applied voltage ejects the material from the needle and sends it into a mass spectrometer for analysis.
Ruth is a freelance journalist. Before freelancing, Ruth was a news editor for the Journal of Cell Biology in New York and an assistant editor for Nature Reviews Neuroscience in London. Prior to that, she was a bona fide pipette-wielding, test tube–shaking, lab coat–shirking research scientist. She has a PhD in genetics from King’s College London, and was a postdoc in stem cell biology at Imperial College London. Today she lives and writes in Connecticut.
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A neurobiologist, who loves the morphology of cells, turns these shapes into works of art made from wood.
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Explore the latest in cell culture supplies, from tried and tested classics to cutting-edge innovative products.
Explore the latest in cell culture supplies, from tried and tested classics to cutting-edge innovative products.
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Ten-year Agreement to Provide a Secure, AI-enabled Forensic Laboratory Information Management System Supporting DHS Forensic, Scientific, and Testing Services
