Metallomics & Plants
Metallomics is an emerging field that studies the distribution and role of metals in biological systems. This field has been growing due to an improved understanding of the essential roles metals play in nearly every biological process—approximately one-third of all biological pathways involve at least one metal—as well as recent advances in metal-based drugs.
Sigray’s AttoMap was originally designed for life science research with support of NIH funding. The AttoMap-310, in particular, is optimized for biological samples because it enables variable angles of incidence for the x-ray beam through its integrated goniometer stage. Low-angle incidence illumination is crucial for many thin biological specimens, as x-rays at normal (90 degree) incidences may pass through without sufficient interaction. By incorporating a goniometer that allows imaging at low angles, the system maximizes the efficiency of the incident x-rays, ensuring a longer path length through the sample for improved detection.
