Basic Principles of Fluorescence Microscopy

Fluorescence microscopy is a basic requirement in cell biology , molecular biology and biotechnology . Advancements over the years has helped scientist to trace molecules in live cells and understand the basis of cell metabolism, exchange, mutation and to xicity. In this short communication we seek to explain in simple terms the basic principles of how a fluorescence microscope works. The principles o f excitation and emission focuses on the ability of f luorophores to absorb energy from photons and to emit such absorbed energy. The difference between t he chemical structures of these fluorephores determines how much energy that is required to exci te them and how long a fluorescence signal from a fluorophore will last. The principles of epi-illumi nation on the other hand describe the arrangement a nd function of the various components of a fluorescenc e microscope.