Introduction
A mesmerizing 48-hour time-lapse video capturing the development of neurons in a chick embryo’s central nervous system has been declared the winner of the prestigious Nikon Small World in Motion video competition. This extraordinary footage was taken by Alexandre Dumoulin, a researcher at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, using a microscope.
The Neuron Development
The video showcases the remarkable elongation of axons, which are nerve cell projections, between the two hemispheres of the central nervous system. These axons play a crucial role in the functioning of the nervous system. Impairment of axons can lead to various neurological disorders.
According to Dumoulin, his objective in studying these organisms is to gain a better understanding of how the nervous system functions and identify potential factors that contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders.
The Nikon Small World Competition
Every year, the Nikon Small World competition exhibits the finest microscopy images and videos. Many of these visual masterpieces are created as part of groundbreaking research. Apart from the winning video of neuron development, other noteworthy videos showcased blood flow in fish, human cells infected by SARS-CoV-2, detailed close-ups of pond creatures, and a beating zebrafish heart.
