Covering the basics of optical microscopy, as well as recent techniques such as fluorescent lifetime imaging and Förster resonance energy transfer, Optical Imaging Techniques in Cell Biology serves as a comprehensive guide for researchers and students. The author, a renowned scientist, known internationally as an instructor in optical imaging, employs a highly accessible and uniform style. He discusses basic microscopes and their underlying principles, image optimization, and extensions to the confocal principle, including their value to the biologist. He also covers advanced techniques such as deconvolution and fluorescent probes, and offers a preview of future imaging tools and techniques.