Microdissection refers to a variety of techniques where a
microscope
A microscope () is a laboratory instrument used to examine objects that are too small to be seen by the naked eye. Microscopy is the science of investigating small objects and structures using a microscope. Microscopic means being invisibl ...
is used to assist in
dissection
Dissection (from Latin ' "to cut to pieces"; also called anatomization) is the dismembering of the body of a deceased animal or plant to study its anatomical structure. Autopsy is used in pathology and forensic medicine to determine the cause ...
.
Different kinds of techniques involve microdissection:
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Chromosome microdissection Chromosome microdissection is a technique that physically removes a large section of DNA from a complete chromosome. The smallest portion of DNA that can be isolated using this method comprises 10 million base pairs - hundreds or thousands of indiv ...
— use of fine glass needle under a microscope to remove a portion from a complete chromosome.
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Laser microdissection
Laser capture microdissection (LCM), also called microdissection, laser microdissection (LMD), or laser-assisted microdissection (LMD or LAM), is a method for isolating specific cells of interest from microscopic regions of tissue/cells/organisms ...
— use of a laser through a microscope to dissect selected cells.
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Laser capture microdissection — use of a laser through a microscope to cause selected cells to adhere to a film.
Microscopy
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