MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London
Science for Health
NIMR animation is a Wellcome Image Awards winner
15 October 2009
The tenth Wellcome Image Awards were presented in London on Wednesday October 14, celebrating the best new images acquired by the Wellcome Images picture library in the past eighteen months. Nineteen images were chosen based on the ability of the picture to communicate the wonder and fascination of science. From capillary networks and liver cells, to summer plankton and bird of paradise seeds, miniature worlds are explored through microscopy and electron micrographs. Cutting edge techniques reveal the intricate nerve endings around our hair follicles, and the beautiful patterns in compact bone and aspirin crystals.
A special award was given to Tim Mohun (pictured), head of NIMR's Division of Developmental Biology, for the animation he produced, working with Mike Bennett, showing the intricate structure of a mouse’s head during development. It shows a level of detail and accuracy beyond what was possible with conventional microscopy techniques.
This 3D image shows a developing mouse head at embryonic stage E14.5. It was created using 3D reconstruction of High Resolution Episcopic Microscopy (HREM) data. In HREM samples are embedded in a plastic that has been stained with eosin (a fluorescent dye). A microtome is used to slice away fine sections of the sample (as thin as 2 microns), then an image of the remaining block is captured after each slice is taken. The images are stored and assembled digitally to create a three dimensional animation of the whole structure of the sample. Using computer software and altering the greyscale mapping of the voxel data, different structures within the head can be visualised or highlighted. Colour channels can then be added tothe 3D reconstruction to highlight tissue density as shown here.
This technique will allow us to document the morphology of transgenic mouse embryos in a way that has not been possible before. The data from this work will build into an important resource for the research community.
Tim Mohun
The selected images will be on display at the Wellcome Collection from October 15, as well as on the Awards website, which explains the stories behind the pictures: how the images were created, what they add to scientific understanding and why the judges picked them out as the best images this year.
Associated image from the animation
A developing mouse head.
A developing mouse embryo head
Tim Mohun's award-winning animation.
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