Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopes

Question 1

How does a laser scanning confocal microscope work?

Answer 1

• Use a laser beam (a single spot of focused light) to scan a specimen that has been tagged with a fluorescent dye.
• The dyed components give off light which is focused through a pinhole and onto a detector. This detector is connected to a computer which generates an image.

Question 2

Advantage of laser scanning confocal microscopes

Answer 2

• Looks at different depths within a specimen.
• Observes living specimens.