what are confocal microscopy's advantages against bright field microscopy?

Answer 1

Confocal can stain for intracellular proteins and structures that are not readily visible by bright field. The use of fluorescent antibodies can visulaize localization of specific proteins. Another advantage of confocal is the ability to visualize multiple proteins using different wavelengths. These can then be visulaized together to determine if they colocalize. Yet another advantage is the ability to create 3D images using the Z plane. A confocal will use slices of the X and Y planes to create a 3D picture.

Answer 2

Since normally the choice is not between a confocal and a bright field scope, but between a confocal and a fluorescent compound scope, I'll answer your question this way:

The main advantage of confocal microscopy is that you greatly reduce out of focus light. This makes your image clearer and you see mostly the light from the focal plane that you are optimally exciting. This often allows you to look at whole mounts.

Other advantages vary with scope. Many confocals will allow you to do do line imaging so that you can get a virtual cross section through your image. You can also look at multiple flourophores simultaneously or in separate channels. Confocals may also allow you to do FRET and FRAP and FLIM experiments, which can't be done with a conventional fluorescent scope.

Answer 3

You can see small irridecent or translucent objects with confocal microscopy that could be washed out in a poorly prepared bright field. However, since you will likely get a better image in whole with a bright field, the advantages of the latter are greater.

Answer 4

Advantages Of Confocal Microscopy

Answer 5

properly im a Proffesser in Microscopy so what your announcing is nonsense, you may desire to pass fishing with some hippy's and forget with reference to the microscopy thingy. Oh yeah, deliver some jam sandwiches, hippys cant withstand them.

Answer 6

h2o