Nucleus of a plant cell showing synaptonemal complex, a ladder- like protein structure that forms between pairing chromosomes during meiosis (the cell division required for reproduction). This image was captured with 3D structured illumination, which has a lateral resolution of approximately 120 nm. The two parallel axes of this complex, which run the length of each chromosome, are seen as two threads spaced 100-200 nm apart and twisting around each other in a helix. 2nd Prize, 2009 Olympus BioScapes Digital Imaging Competition®.