Your name:

Fanya Yuan

Select the category that best describes your image::

Micro images

Image title:

Deep Pit Connections

Image description:

During my undergraduate studies at Friday Harbor Laboratories (University of Washington), I collected this red algae, Antithamnion kylinii, from a washed up bull kelp stipe. The sample looked pink under the microscope initially, but I stained the sample blue to better observe the pit connections. The pit connections are a crucial feature in red algae that allow intercellular transportations and communications. I came to appreciate microcopy more and more as I dive deeper into the world of algae. I found staining to be the easiest way to discover the characteristics that remain hidden even under the microscope.