Diaphonization (or diaphonisation), also known as clearing and staining, is a staining technique used on animal specimens that first renders the body of the animal transparent by bathing it in trypsin, and then stains the bones and cartilage with various dyes, usually alizarin red and alcian blue.[1]
A diaphonized blue catfish. The bones are dyed red and the cartilage is dyed blue.
Diaphonization was first developed by Schultze in 1897, and later was modified by numerous researchers.[2]
Technique
Clearing renders the animals transparent and is achieved by bathing the specimens in a soup of trypsin, a digestive enzyme that slowly breaks down flesh. The dyes alizarin red and alcian blue are most commonly used in the staining of bone and cartilage accordingly. When cleared, the specimen is put in glycerin. Despite its merits, diaphonization is not widely used in the scientific field. Advancements in imaging technology have rendered the practice all but obsolete, though it is expanding as an art form.[3]
Diaphonization is not suitable for animals longer than 30 centimeters (except for snakes) due to the limited ability of the trypsin bath to penetrate the tissues of larger animals. It is usually used to preserve animals that are too delicate to dissect, and instead are kept as wet specimens.[1]
References
^ abOommen, Ansel (2014-05-14). "Dyeing the Dead: The Artful Science of Diaphonization". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
^"Elaboration of transparent biological specimens for visualisation of developing cartilage and bone". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
^"The Artful Science of Diaphonization". 20 July 2015.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cleared and stained specimens.
January 07, 2023
diaphonization, diaphonisation, also, known, clearing, staining, staining, technique, used, animal, specimens, that, first, renders, body, animal, transparent, bathing, trypsin, then, stains, bones, cartilage, with, various, dyes, usually, alizarin, alcian, bl. Diaphonization or diaphonisation also known as clearing and staining is a staining technique used on animal specimens that first renders the body of the animal transparent by bathing it in trypsin and then stains the bones and cartilage with various dyes usually alizarin red and alcian blue 1 A diaphonized blue catfish The bones are dyed red and the cartilage is dyed blue Diaphonized veiled chameleon Field Museum of Natural History Chicago History EditDiaphonization was first developed by Schultze in 1897 and later was modified by numerous researchers 2 Technique EditClearing renders the animals transparent and is achieved by bathing the specimens in a soup of trypsin a digestive enzyme that slowly breaks down flesh The dyes alizarin red and alcian blue are most commonly used in the staining of bone and cartilage accordingly When cleared the specimen is put in glycerin Despite its merits diaphonization is not widely used in the scientific field Advancements in imaging technology have rendered the practice all but obsolete though it is expanding as an art form 3 Diaphonization is not suitable for animals longer than 30 centimeters except for snakes due to the limited ability of the trypsin bath to penetrate the tissues of larger animals It is usually used to preserve animals that are too delicate to dissect and instead are kept as wet specimens 1 References Edit a b Oommen Ansel 2014 05 14 Dyeing the Dead The Artful Science of Diaphonization Atlas Obscura Retrieved 2021 02 05 Elaboration of transparent biological specimens for visualisation of developing cartilage and bone ResearchGate Retrieved 2021 02 05 The Artful Science of Diaphonization 20 July 2015 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cleared and stained specimens Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Diaphonization amp oldid 1127480602, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
