Single Cell Biology

Abstract

Future Prospects of 3D Human Chromosome Imaging by Serial Block Face Scanning Electron Microscopy

Mohammed Yusuf, Bo Chen and Ian Robinson

The higher order structure of human chromosomes remains to be elucidated with the 30 nm mystery still remaining. For internal structure determination, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) cannot be used as the chromosomes are too thick (approx. 1.4 microns) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is a surface imaging technique. For this purpose, the three-dimensional (3D) serial block face scanning electron microscopy (SBFSEM) was used on imaging mitotic human chromosome for the first time [1].