Histologists study the lipid bilayer using several methods: 1. Staining Techniques: Histochemical stains such as osmium tetroxide bind to lipids, allowing for their visualization under a microscope. 2. Immunohistochemistry: This technique uses antibodies against specific membrane proteins to study their distribution and abundance. 3. Cryo-electron Microscopy: This advanced method provides detailed images of the lipid bilayer at near-atomic resolution.
