A Mini Review of Methods for Acquiring Genomic/Biological Information using Fluorescent Signal: Current Status and Future Prospects

Abstract

Genomic/Biological information has been measured over a wide range of spatial resolution: 1) micro-size level (e.g. gene expression, DNA methylation, chromosomal territory), 2) single cellar level (e.g. intracellular transmission, signal processing between protein and membrane), 3) small cell population level (e.g signal processing in cells), 4) tissue-size level (e.g. development or metastasis of tumor), 5) whole-body level (e.g drug delivery system).

Data acquiring technique using fluorescence imaging has been intensively studied. The fluorescent probe binds specific DNA sequence in nucleus or specific protein in a cell, and the probe labels target location specifically. Furthermore, improved fluorescent light of longer wavelength provides imaging information on deeper parts of the whole body.

This paper focuses on the fluorescence imaging methods such as super resolution fluorescence microscopy, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and deep imaging. Both of the microscopic imaging and the macroscopic imaging are discussed in detail.