Fluorescent dyes are compounds that absorb light at a specific wavelength and then emit light at a different, longer wavelength. The spectrum of a fluorescent dye refers to the range of wavelengths of light that the dye absorbs and emits.
Here is a list of some common fluorescent dyes and the wavelengths of light that they absorb and emit:
Fluorescein: Absorbs light at 490 nm and emits light at 515 nm
Rhodamine: Absorbs light at 550 nm and emits light at 570 nm
Alexa Fluor 488: Absorbs light at 495 nm and emits light at 519 nm
Alexa Fluor 546: Absorbs light at 547 nm and emits light at 568 nm
Alexa Fluor 647: Absorbs light at 647 nm and emits light at 668 nm
Cy5: Absorbs light at 649 nm and emits light at 670 nm
Cy7: Absorbs light at 755 nm and emits light at 780 nm
These dyes are often used in biological research and medical diagnostics, as they can be used to label and visualize specific molecules or structures within cells or tissues. The specific wavelengths of light that a fluorescent dye absorbs and emits can be used to distinguish it from other dyes and allow researchers to track multiple dyes simultaneously using fluorescence microscopy or flow cytometry.
