Laser capture microdissection (LCM) is becoming the top technology with a point-and-shoot capability that allows for the rapid isolation of single cells and unique multi-cell structures from complex heterogeneous tissue. Dissected samples can then be analyzed biochemically and on a molecular basis in order to encompass most of the omics. Joining microarray analyses to the process offers a more global view of gene expression as well. There are several applications for which LCM is well suited, including therapeutic efficacy and toxicity assessments, drug interactions, and forensics. The basic principle and operation of LCM are elegant and simple. A sample of tissue is placed on a glass slide and a special thermoplastic transfer film is laid over it. The laser beam zaps a selected target area and bonds it to the film with great precision without changing morphology or damaging the sample. The transfer film that has the bonded cells on it is then lifted off the thin tissue section. When ejected into a tube, the sample can be harvested automatically for analysis of DNA, RNA, or proteins. This innovative technology can microdissect hundreds of cells in very little time. LCM has been used to evaluate the safety and toxicity of drugs. Oliver Genat, head of molecular biology and investigative toxicology at Novartis, says he focuses on a specific structure in the kidney to evaluate how the cells of that structure respond to drug treatment.