Last Tuesday (26), the Nikon, a photography giant, has announced the winner of its prestigious video contest, the 2023 Nikon Small World in Motion.
Dr. Alexandre Dumoulin, professor in the department of Molecular Biology at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, won first place with a 48-hour time-lapse that displays the neurons of a chicken embryo.
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Nikon Small World in Motion highlights excellence in microscopic videography, revealing a tiny universe that normally escapes our gaze.
The winning video offers an impressive view of evolution of neurons, which establish connections with the opposite half of the embryo's central nervous system. This process is fundamental for the transmission of information in organisms, including humans.
Nerve cells form connections through elongated structures known as axons, which run throughout the nervous system before establishing synapses.
Dumoulin's video, recorded at the University of Zurich, captures these axons crossing the midline, marking the division of the two parts of the central nervous system.
Recent studies suggest that complications in axon movement and guidance may be related to conditions such as schizophrenia, highlighting the importance of Dumoulin's research.
The scientist shares his motivation, stating that his focus is “discerning the growth patterns of neurons in chicken and mouse embryos”.
It seeks to deepen understanding of the functioning of the nervous system and identify elements related to neurodevelopment. See the winning video below:
The scientist used an innovative technique to create his winning time-lapse: confocal imaging. Such a method involves scanning the sample to create computer-generated optical sections with a thickness of up to 250 nm using visible light.
These optical sections can be stacked to produce a 3D digital reconstruction of the object, resulting in the fascinating time-lapse that earned it the Nikon award.
In addition to celebrating scientific advancement, the Nikon Small World in Motion video contest serves as a platform for researchers like Dumoulin to share their discoveries with the public.
The award winner expressed his goal to introduce “these evolving neurons to the public” and emphasized that the contest represents the fusion of nature and scientific exploration.
Eric Flem, senior manager of CRM and Communications at Nikon, also highlighted the importance of the winning video, stating that the time-lapse of Dumoulin, in addition to being aesthetically attractive, has profound implications for the development of pioneering treatments for diseases neurological.