Definition

1. Noun:
   • A technique for producing an image on a photographic plate or film by using the radiation emitted from a radioactive substance within the specimen itself. It is a method used in scientific research to visualize the distribution of a radioactive material in a thin section of tissue, a cell, or another material.

Usage

• Autoradiography is primarily used as a singular noun to describe the technique or process itself.
• It is a technical term used in fields like biology, biochemistry, medicine, and materials science.
• Common collocations include:

Examples

• Noun:
  • The researcher used autoradiography to track the location of the radioactive tracer in the brain tissue.
  • Autoradiography of the gel revealed which DNA fragments contained the labeled probe.
  • The study employed film-based autoradiography to analyze the sample.

Advanced Usage

• In situ hybridization autoradiography: A specific application combining molecular hybridization with autoradiography to localize specific DNA or RNA sequences within cells or chromosomes.
  • In situ hybridization autoradiography was crucial for mapping the gene expression in the embryo.

Variants and Related Words

• Autoradiogram (n) / Autoradiograph (n): The actual image or record produced by the autoradiography technique.
  • The autoradiogram showed a clear band indicating protein binding.
• Autoradiographic (adj): Relating to or using autoradiography.
  • The autoradiographic analysis confirmed the hypothesis.

Synonyms

• Radioautography: A less common synonym with the same meaning.

Different Meanings

• The word autoradiography has only one specific, technical meaning related to imaging via emitted radiation from a specimen. It does not have common alternative definitions.

Noun

1. producing a radiograph by means of the radiation emitted from the specimen being photographed