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False-coloured scanning electron micrograph of pollen grains from a venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula). This carniverous plant eats insects and other small bugs. Pollen grains contain the male gamete and are produced in the anther. They are transferred from one flower to another (pollination) so that fertilisation of the female gametes can occur (sexual plant reproduction). Pollen is a common trigger of hay fever or seasonal allergies. Pollen grains are 100 microns in size across.

Venus flytrap pollen grains, SEM

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.

HeLa cell, immortal human epithelial cancer cell line, SEM

An 8 day old 3D cluster of cells (embryoid body) formed from mouse embryonic stem cells. The cells were grown in factors to encourage development of the nervous system (neural differentiation). Mature neurones (beta-tubulin, green) are seen extending across the surface of the embryoid body which is made up of immature neural cells (nestin, red). Imaged by fluorescence immunocytochemistry. Image width is 2.28 mm.

Neurone development, embryoid body

False-coloured scanning electron micrograph of pollen grains from a venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula). This carniverous plant eats insects and other small bugs. Pollen grains contain the male gamete and are produced in the anther. They are transferred from one flower to another (pollination) so that fertilisation of the female gametes can occur (sexual plant reproduction). Pollen is a common trigger of hay fever or seasonal allergies. Pollen grains are 120 microns in size across.

Indigestible material in a lymphoid patch of a healthy rabbit caecum.

Indigestible particle of food

Photograph showing sculptor's hands working a ball of clay. This is an early stage in the process of anatomically modelling a human head. In this image, the head is viewed from behind (posterior view).



This image forms part of a series of work titled "Stranger than a Wolf" showing the gradual anatomical creation of a human head in clay. For the entire process (forming the cranial bone structure and placing the facial muscles, features and skin) see related images. As a reference, a male human skull was chosen from the Panum Collection, Copenhagen. Sculptor Ellie Scheepens was asked to reproduce it with attention to comparison and touch, and without viewing the front of the head and face (anterior view) at all. This unique method of forensic modelling was directed throughout the process by artist Heather Spears. Concept: artist, writer and educator Heather Spears. Sculpture: Ellie Scheepens. Photography: Orsolya Benkóczi and Isaac Carter.

Human head sculpted in clay, early stage in process

Density-dependent colour scanning electron micrograph of the surface of human heart valve (mitral valve) tissue. The spherical particle in the centre of the image (white/pink) is dense, calcified material composed of calcium phosphate. This build up of calcium salts (a process called calcification) will over time harden the tissue and can eventually stop the valve from working properly. The remaining material is less dense and corresponds to the organic component of the tissue. Micrographs were coloured in post-processing by combining images acquired by three modes of image acquisition that use different kinds of electron microscope detectors. Horizontal width of image is 11 microns.

Human heart (mitral valve) tissue displaying calcification

Molecular model from X-ray diffraction data (PDB ID: 1bbt) of a foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) particle. It belongs to the Picornaviridae family and has an icosahedral protein capsid which contains single stranded RNA at its core. Foot and mouth disease is a highly contagious disease which affects cattle, sheep, pigs and other cloven-hooved ruminants. Symptoms include high fever and blisters in the mouth and on the feet. Major outbreaks can result in animals being slaughtered to stop the infection spreading, with a devastating effect on livestock and the farming industry. Width of image is approximately 28 nm.

Foot and mouth disease virus particle

3-dimensional reconstruction of a hollow multi-cellular prostate tumour spheroid (cluster of cells) imaged by confocal microscopy. Cell nuclei in the spheroid are stained with the fluorescent dye propidium iodide (red). Dendrimer nano-carriers (blue) are made of hyber-branched poly-L-lysine polymer and carry the cytotoxic drug doxorubicin (black and red beads inside the dendrimer). They were modelled in imaging software and then artificially inserted into the tumour in this image to give an idea of how they would interact with it. Doxorubicin encapsulated inside the dendrimer is able to penetrate deeper into the spheroid better killing the prostate tumour cells.



Diameter of the spheroid is approximately 250 micrometers.

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Venus flytrap pollen grains, SEM

HeLa cell, immortal human epithelial cancer cell line, SEM

Neurone development, embryoid body

Venus flytrap pollen grains, SEM

Indigestible particle of food

HeLa cell, immortal human epithelial cancer cell line, SEM

Human head sculpted in clay, early stage in process

Human heart (mitral valve) tissue displaying calcification

Foot and mouth disease virus particle

Prostate cancer cells treated with nano sized drug carriers

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Venus flytrap pollen grains, SEM

HeLa cell, immortal human epithelial cancer cell line, SEM

Neurone development, embryoid body

Venus flytrap pollen grains, SEM

Indigestible particle of food

HeLa cell, immortal human epithelial cancer cell line, SEM

Human head sculpted in clay, early stage in process

Human heart (mitral valve) tissue displaying calcification

Foot and mouth disease virus particle

Prostate cancer cells treated with nano sized drug carriers

Stay in the know

Wellcome collectionWellcome Collection

Finding us:

Opening times:

Today's opening times

Wellcome collection