Prostate cancer cells

HeLa cell, immortal human epithelial cancer cell line, SEM

skin cancer cell

Keratin of a dog claw

Rat neurones, SEM

Breast cancer cell, SEM

Zebrafish scales

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False-coloured scanning electron micrograph of a HeLa cell which is displaying some blebbing. These blebs or ruffles visible on the surface of the cell are local bulges which form in the plasma membrane when it temporarily detaches from the underlying cytoskeleton. Cell blebbing is important for a variety of cellular processes including cell movement and cell division. HeLa cells are an immortal human epithelial cell line derived from a cancerous tumour of the cervix (adenocarcinoma). It was established in 1951 from a biopsy taken from Henrietta Lacks and was the first human cell line to survive and grow in the laboratory. Henrietta's cells were originally used in this way without permission from her or her family which raises issues about ethics and privacy. HeLa cells have been used extensively around the world in many different fields of research including cancer research, immunology and vaccine development. Width of image is 32 micrometres.

This image shows a healthy strand of hair from a Caucasian woman with brown hair. The outer layer of the hair is the cuticle and is made up of overlapping cells, which protect the cortex layer underneath. Most strands of hair have three layers, the medulla is the third and innermost layer (which is absent in blond hair).

Caucasian brown hair

False-colour scanning electron micrograph of the drosophila proboscis. The proboscis is an appendage forund on the head of insects and other animals and is used for olfactory and feeding purposes. The proboscis of the <I>d.melanogaster</I> commonly known as the fruit fly is shown here open.

Drosophila proboscis

False-coloured scanning electron micrograph showing the surface of a single strand of hair which has been heavily bleached and straightened. This image shows the tip of a hair taken from the front of the head of a female of Caucasian descent. Although naturally curly, the hair has been repeatedly straightened. Exposure to hair colour or dye, heating and drying can over time damage the hair shaft (barbed wire-like appearance seen here) making the hair brittle and more prone to breakage. The hair shaft is made up of several layers of a tough protein called keratin. The outer layer (cuticle) is visible here and is made up of overlapping, tightly packed scales. Horizontal width of image is 829 micrometres.

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Anne Weston, Francis Crick Institute

Images

Works

HeLa cell, immortal human epithelial cancer cell line, SEM

Caucasian brown hair

Drosophila proboscis

Damaged human hair, bleached and straightened, SEM

Lung cancer cells.

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Wellcome uses cookies.

Anne Weston, Francis Crick Institute

Images

Works

HeLa cell, immortal human epithelial cancer cell line, SEM

Caucasian brown hair

Drosophila proboscis

Damaged human hair, bleached and straightened, SEM

Lung cancer cells.

Wellcome Collection

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