Applications of small-animal molecular imaging of gene expression

Recent advances in molecular imaging allow us to visualize both cellular and subcellular processes within living subjects at the molecular level as well as at the anatomical level [1]. Molecular imaging is molecular-genetic imaging for visualizing cellular processes by combination of molecular biology and biomedical imaging. This marvelous technique provides research attention not only in molecular cell biology but also in related fields. Remarkable improvement of molecular imaging was achieved in visualization, characterization, and quantification of biological processes by integration of many different fields such as genetics, pharmacology, chemistry, physics, engineering and medicine.