anther (part of
stamen). The picture shows among other things a nice red flowing collar-like structure just below the anther. However, an intact thale cress stamen does not have such collar, this is a fixation artifact: the stamen has been cut below the picture frame, and
epidermis (upper layer of cells) of stamen stalk has peeled off, forming a non-characteristic structure. Photo: Heiti Paves from
Tallinn University of Technology. In
microscopy, an artifact is an apparent structural detail that is caused by the processing of the specimen and is thus not a legitimate feature of the specimen. In
light microscopy, artifacts may be produced by air bubbles trapped under the
slide's cover slip. In
electron microscopy, distortions may be produced in the drying out of the specimen.
Staining can cause the appearance of solid chemical deposits that may be seen as structures inside the cell. Different techniques including
freeze-fracturing and
cell fractionation may be used to overcome the problems of artifacts. It may cause chromatin to be squeezed out of nuclei. Inflammatory and tumor cells are most susceptible to crush artifacts.- Traction of the sections.- Too much or too little alcohol dehydration. ==In radiography==