Rainbow Ribbons of Collagen

Description

2018 Honorable Mention, Northwestern Scientific Images Contest. Collagen is a protein that provides shape and support to organs, providing a scaffold for living cells to grow and thrive. It is also the most abundant protein in the human body. This image shows collagen fibers in a lung tumor from a mouse. When arranged in a specific way, the fibers glow when illuminated with infrared laser light. This image is color-coded by depth to reveal the fibers three-dimensional structure. This work helps investigate how processes like cancer and aging affect collagen.

Abstract

This image originally appeared as part of Northwestern's Scientific Images Contest. The contest and subsequent exhibitions are organized by Science in Society, the university's research center for science education and public engagement. Further information and opportunities to participate are available on their website.

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