Live cell imaging has been used extensively to provide information about the dynamic nature of cell biology. Time-lapse imaging of live cells requires environmental control (temperature, CO2-level, etc) for maintaining live cells in a healthy state, as well as the hardware/software setup for keeping cells in focus throughout the time of imaging, ranging from milliseconds to hours.

Live cell imaging can be combined with various imaging modalities, such as confocal microscopy. Examples include:

• Automated time-lapse experiment with multi-position imaging to track cellular events with a time range of hours or days, such as cell division or cell cycle
• Study of protein localization and dynamics in living cells