Can the Dark Reader lamps be used to observe EYFP in plants?
Yes, the Dark Reader can be used to view various GFPs in both plants and animals. Here are some considerations to bear in mind: 1. The type of GFP – GFP variants such as EGFP, EYFP and dsRed work very well with the Dark Reader. Wild-type GFP does not. 2. The expression level of the GFP in the plant – There is no way of knowing if this is high enough – you simply have to try it. 3. The level of ‘background interference’. For example, chlorophyll will fluoresce and this can mask red fluorescent signals in particular. Again, you will have to try it and see. 4. The size of the samples – your sample (e.g., embryos and seedlings) may be physically too small to see any fluorescence by eye.
