3D Model Gallery

Click on an image to access the VRML models. A VRML viewer such as WebSpace or CosmoPlayer is required. Models are in VRML 1.0 format

Rat Liver Mitochondrion (1.75Mb)

The outer membrane (magenta) surrounds inner membrane (red) Cristae which branch off from the inner membrane are shown in various color. The mitochondrion was reconstructed from a thick section of tissue using double-tilt electron microscopy tomography with SPIDER software, followed by contouring with Sterecon software and surface extraction with Iris Explorer. Smaller smoothed version (721Kb) Data are from: Dr. Carmen Mannella.

70S Ribosome (1.4Mb)

70S ribosome from E. coli. The 50S subunit (blue) is attached to 30S subunit (eggshell). An mRNA strand (brown) is shown passing through the ribosome and interacting with two tRNA molecules (magenta & green). Two alternative paths (yellow) for polypeptide exit are shown. The ribosome model was reconstructed from 4300 cryo-EM projections using the SPIDER software. Details. Faster Non-interactive version (1.1Mb) Data are from: Dr. Joachim Frank. © All rights reserved.

Astrocyte (133Kb)

An astrocyte (light blue) with contained nucleus (green). Astrocytes are accessory cells found in the nervous system. Reconstruction made from serial section electron micrographs using the Sterecon system. Data are from: Michael Marko.

Metastasizing tumor cell (260Kb )

A murine breast cancer cell (green) which is metastasizing through a fibrous layer in the peritoneum (red) by "squeezing" through openings in the fibrous layer. The cell's nucleus is shown also shown (blue). Reconstruction made from serial section electron micrographs using the Sterecon system. Data are from: Dr. Donald Parsons.

Developing Mouse Thorax (1.0 Mb)

Thorax region of a developing mouse embryo. The cartilagenous branchial loops are shown (green) as well as the endoplasmic layer (light blue) which develops into the esophagus, lungs, etc. Reconstruction made from serial section light micrographs using the Sterecon system. Data are from: Dr. David Henick.