Nikon announced the 2024 Small World in Motion competition winners:
Hold on to your hats! The winners of the 2024 #NikonSmallWorldInMotion competition have finally been revealed, and they’re sure to blow you away. View the full video gallery here: https://t.co/sQ5ahDQMC8 pic.twitter.com/CL22suVB9e
— Nikon Small World (@NikonSmallWorld) September 17, 2024
Additional information:
14th Annual Nikon Small World in Motion Competition Winner Captures Embryonic Development in Fruit Flies
Detailing the intricate process of early embryogenesis, this year’s winning video provides insights into fundamental biological processes with far-reaching implications.
MELVILLE, N.Y., Sept. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Nikon Instruments Inc. today unveiled the winners of its 14th annual Nikon Small World in Motion Video Competition, an integral component of the Nikon Small World competition, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The first-place prize was awarded to Dr. Bruno Vellutini of the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics for his video of mitotic waves in the embryo of a fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster). The video reveals the dynamic processes of fly embryogenesis, crucial for uncovering genetic pathways that mirror those in humans and other mammals, with applications for cancer research, birth defects, and potential treatment development.
As a zoologist with a background in evolutionary and developmental biology, Dr. Vellutini is dedicated to advancing our understanding of how embryos build themselves from a single cell—a process fundamental to all animal life. His research, while focused on evolutionary questions, has broader implications for medical science, specifically rare neurological disorders and limb malformations in humans. “The beauty of basic research in biology,” says Dr. Vellutini, “is that what we learn in one organism is often applicable to others and has the potential to contribute to the understanding of human diseases.”
Dr. Vellutini’s winning video captures the rhythmic waves of division and tissue movements critical to proper embryonic formation in fruit flies. These processes are linked to mechanisms that can go awry, leading to the development of cancer and other diseases. For instance, during normal development, cells must organize precisely within tissues, a process maintained by cell-cell communication and mechanical feedback. Disruptions in these processes, such as the epithelial-mesenchymal transition—a process normal in embryogenesis but problematic when occurring unexpectedly—are known to contribute to the invasiveness of lung, liver, and breast cancer.
Dr. Vellutini adds depth to his video, saying, “Fruit fly embryos are in our homes, developing in our kitchens and our trash bins, are undergoing the same processes as shown in the video. I believe the video is particularly impactful because it shows us how these fascinating cellular and tissue dynamics are happening every day, all around us—even in the most mundane living beings.”
To capture this dynamic development, Dr. Vellutini used light sheet microscopy, a technique that allows for gentle imaging of live embryos while minimizing potential damage. “The biggest challenges I encountered were in mounting the embryos correctly and optimizing imaging conditions to capture clear, high-quality footage over an extended period. Balancing light exposure to avoid harming the samples was crucial,” Dr. Vellutini explained.
“For the last 50 years, Nikon Small World has been a leading showcase of cutting-edge microscopy and artistic imaging. Since its inception in 2011, Small World in Motion has been a vital component of this gallery,” said Eric Flem, Senior Manager, Communications and CRM at Nikon Instruments. “As we enter a new era of the competition, we remain committed to highlighting the boundaries of innovation in scientific imaging. Nikon’s dedication to advancing science and art is especially evident in Dr. Vellutini’s winning entry, which stands as a testament to this legacy, capturing a mesmerizing movement within the microscopic world that helps deepen our understanding of a process that shapes life itself.”
Second place was awarded to Jay McClellan for his video of water droplets evaporating from the wing scales of a peacock butterfly (Aglais io). The final product used image stacking and a custom CNC motion control system to handle evaporating droplets and ensure smooth, rapid image capture.
Third place was awarded to Dr. Jiaxing Li for his video of an oligodendrocyte precursor cell in the spinal cord of a zebrafish.
The 2024 judging panel included:
- Adrian Coakley, Director of Photography at National Geographic Books
- Michelle S. Itano, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology and Director of the Neuroscience Microscopy Core at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Emily Petersen, Photography Managing Editor at Science Magazine
- Clare Waterman, Ph.D., Cell Biologist and Member of the National Academy of Sciences
- Jennifer C. Waters, Ph.D., Director of the Core for Imaging Technology & Education at Harvard Medical School
- Samantha Yammine, Ph.D., Neuroscientist and Science Communicator
