Flow cytometry

Flow cytometry
Analysis of biological material by detection of the light-absorbing or fluorescing properties of cells or subcellular fractions such as chromosomes passing in a narrow stream through a laser beam. Flow cytometry can be used with automated sorting devices to sort successive droplets of the stream into different fractions depending on the fluorescence emitted by each droplet.

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flow cytometry n a technique for identifying and sorting cells and their components (as DNA) by staining with a fluorescent dye and detecting the fluorescence usu. by laser beam illumination
flow cytometer n

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a technique in which cells are tagged with a fluorescent dye and then directed single file through a laser beam. The intensity of fluorescence induced by the laser beam is proportional to the amount of DNA in the cells.

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a technique in which cells suspended in a fluid flow one at a time through a focus of exciting light, which is scattered in patterns characteristic to the cells and their components; they are often labeled with fluorescent markers so that light is first absorbed and then emitted at altered frequencies. A sensor detecting the scattered or emitted light measures the size and molecular characteristics of individual cells; tens of thousands of cells can be examined per minute and the data gathered are processed by computer.

Flow cytometry schematic.


Medical dictionary. 2011.

Look at other dictionaries:

  • flow cytometry — flow cytometry. См. проточная цитометрия. (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • Flow cytometry — Analysis of a marine sample of photosynthetic picoplankton by flow cytometry showing three different populations (Prochlorococcus, Synechococcus, and picoeukaryotes) Flow cytometry (abbreviated: FCM) is a technique for counting and examining… …   Wikipedia

  • flow cytometry — noun : a technique for identifying and sorting cells and their components (as DNA) by staining with a fluorescent dye, detecting the fluorescence usually by passing the cells individually in solution through laser beam illumination, and counting… …   Useful english dictionary

  • flow cytometry — srovinė citometrija statusas T sritis augalininkystė apibrėžtis Technologija fluorescenciniais dažais pažymėtoms ląstelėms rūšiuoti ir skaičiuoti, kai fluorescencija sužadinama lazeriu. atitikmenys: angl. flow cytometry rus. текущая цитометрия …   Žemės ūkio augalų selekcijos ir sėklininkystės terminų žodynas

  • flow cytometry — noun Date: 1978 a technique for identifying and sorting cells and their components (as DNA) by staining with a fluorescent dye and detecting the fluorescence usually by laser beam illumination • flow cytometer noun …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • flow cytometry — Automated measurements on large numbers of individual cells or other small biological materials, made as the cells flow one by one in a fluid stream past optical and/or electronic sensors. A similar approach may be used for sorting cells see… …   Glossary of Biotechnology

  • flow cytometry — Slightly imprecise but common term for the use of the Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorter (FACS). Cells are labelled with fluorescent dye and then passed, in suspending medium, through a narrow dropping nozzle so that each cell is in a small… …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • flow cytometry — noun A technique used to sort and classify cells by using fluorescent markers on their surface …   Wiktionary

  • flow cytometry — a technique in which cells are tagged with a fluorescent dye and then directed single file through a laser beam. The intensity of fluorescence induced by the laser beam is proportional to the amount of DNA in the cells …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • flow cytometry — A method of measuring the number of cells in a sample, the percentage of live cells in a sample, and certain characteristics of cells, such as size, shape, and the presence of tumor markers on the cell surface. The cells are stained with a light… …   English dictionary of cancer terms

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