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X-Rayed Skeleton
29 December 2016

X-Rayed Skeleton

A web of chromatin grows along the DNA inside the nucleus of our cells – it’s represented in bright colours in this mouse nerve cell. The skeleton-like chromatin changes as stem cells develop into nerve cells, shaping the life inside by controlling access to the DNA. Understandably, scientists want to take a close look at chromatin, but many have found it too sensitive to lab techniques. Here, x-rays fired into the nucleus from many angles, gently highlight two different types of chromatin in 3D without causing any damage. One form of chromatin (blue green) is surrounded and linked to heterochromatin (red-yellow), a more compact form which affects which genes can be switched on or off, playing major roles in development. Now the x-ray technique can be applied to different types of cell (even those with genetic mutations), and heterochromatin watched as is moves and shifts, altering life as it goes.

Written by John Ankers

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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