Reconstructions can be made from serial sections

Here are a series of five serial sections from the imperfect fungus, Aureobasidium pullulans. Note that while some objects are distinct, others are very difficult to make out and require careful observation.

Tracings of the major components (nuclei and mitochondria) can be made onto acetate overlays which can then be positioned above one another in proper order to view the three-dimensional organization of subcellular structures.

These images were taken with the aid of a high voltage transmission electron microscope. The sections are each approximately 1/4 micrometer in thickness. This is considered to be rather thick, and the multiple layers of information recorded in each section are the basis for the somewhat indistinct images.