autofluorescent
- adjective
- /ˌɔːtəˈflɔːrəˌsɛnt/
- Specialized
:
autofluorescente
- The cells' autofluorescent properties interfered with the imaging experiment, requiring additional controls.
Examples
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Many algae species are autofluorescent under ultraviolet light, making them easy to observe in the laboratory.
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Some minerals are naturally autofluorescent and can be identified without staining.
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The autofluorescent proteins in the sample were easily visible.
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Is this material autofluorescent under UV light?
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Many algae species are autofluorescent under ultraviolet light, making them easy to observe in the laboratory.
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Some minerals are naturally autofluorescent and can be identified without staining.
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The proteins in the sample were autofluorescent and emitted bright colors when exposed to UV light.
Synonyms
37
5.7
Gives off visible light when hit by ultraviolet light
Making its own light rather than reflecting light
How Fluorescent
Surface Forms
Morphology
autofluorescent = fluorescent (transparent) = auto + fluoresce + ent
The word is built straightforwardly from the prefix auto- meaning 'self' and the adjective fluorescent, so the scientific meaning is directly recoverable.
Etymology
Autofluorescent combines auto- meaning 'self', as in autograph, and fluorescent meaning 'giving off light', so it describes something that 'gives off light by itself' — for example cells or minerals that glow without added dyes or stains.