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An expansion microscopy technique called ChromExM offers detailed views into the organization chromatin and associated gene expression machinery in embryos.
Researchers like the gene-editing method called prime editing for its precision and versatility. As they ask the method to do more, many factors shape what happens next.
Nature uses only the longest threads to weave her patterns, so that each small piece of her fabric reveals the organization of the entire tapestry. —Richard Feynman
Astyanax mexicanus exists in two forms: a surface form that is abundantly distributed throughout freshwater bodies in Middle America and a blind subterranean form endemic to caves in northeastern Mexico. These diverse fish populations have become a vertebrate model for investigating the genetic basis of environmental adaptation.
The field of bioimage analysis is poised for a major transformation, owing to advancements in imaging technologies and artificial intelligence. The emergence of multimodal foundation models — which are akin to large language models (such as ChatGPT) but are capable of comprehending and processing biological images — holds great potential for ushering in a revolutionary era in bioimage analysis.
Here we discuss the prospects of bioimage analysis in the context of the African research landscape as well as challenges faced in the development of bioimage analysis in countries on the continent. We also speculate about potential approaches and areas of focus to overcome these challenges and thus build the communities, infrastructure and initiatives that are required to grow image analysis in African research.