Coherent phase microscopy of intracellular processes

Information encoded in DNA implicitly determines the sequence of processes at different organizational levels of living matter. Optical microscopy is a major source of knowledge about processes in living cells. Further progress in biology to a large extent depends on the perfection of microscopic methods based on the latest advances in laser and computer technologies. This review outlines modern functional imaging techniques for living cell microscopy with particular emphasis on dynamic coherent phase microscopy based on recording local fluctuations of refractive index. The measurement results produced with a laser phase microscope are reported.