Abbreviations for dyes, stains and fluorescent probes used in biology and medicine in the 21st century. A bright future or the last gasp?

ABSTRACT

I summarize here the history of the use of abbreviations, mostly in subject areas related to dyes, stains and fluorescent probes used in biology and medicine. The dozen most popular abbreviations in these fields are identified and their salient characteristics noted. The pros and cons of each abbreviation are discussed with relevant citations. Certain abbreviations that are not in the list, e.g., AZAN and LN, are mentioned because they have an unusual origin; while others, i.e., INEPT and INADEQUATE are presented because they are bizarre. A related topic is abbreviations used for citations, which require further efforts to decipher. In the past, brevity helped conserve materials, such as ink and paper, and promoted more rapid publishing. I suggest that the use of many abbreviations in the current era of electronic publishing may not be necessary.

KEYWORDS:

• AO
• AZAN
• BODIPY
• CY3
• CY5
• DAB
• DOI
• FITC
• H & E
• Hoechst 33258
• Hoechst 33342
• JC-1
• LN
• MTT
• PAS
• PI

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.