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Minnow seems like such a dismissive term for a creature as widely appreciated as the zebrafish. Not only is this little striped character hugely popular for home aquariums, it’s also a big deal in scientific research. The first vertebrate to have been cloned, it’s prized for its ability to regenerate itself. Its latest accolade: starring role in Nikon’s annual Small World competition.

The 42nd annual Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition awarded first place to Oscar Ruiz, PHD, for his zebrafish selfie. Well, actually, his microscopic view of the facial development of a four-day-old zebrafish embryo.

To most of us, Nikon is better known as the first-choice brand for many professional photographers and, lately, in the broader consumer world. Perhaps lesser known is the company’s microscopy and instrumentation arm, Nikon Instruments, a world leader in the development and manufacture of optical and digital imaging technology for biomedical applications. Its cutting-edge instruments include microscopes, precision measuring equipment, digital imaging products and software. Small World gives those in this particular area of imaging, photomicrography, the opportunity to give their creative side free rein. Judges reward artistic quality as well as exceptional scientific technique.

According to Nikon, Ruiz brings the world face to face with his research on facial development and cellular morphogenesis with his winning image of a four-dayold zebrafish embryo. He uses the zebrafish to study genetic mutations that lead to facial abnormalities such as cleft lip and palate in humans in the lab of Dr George Eisenhoffer at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre in Houston, Texas.

In addition to Dr Ruiz, Nikon recognised 76 other winners of the 2016 Small World competition. The honour roll comprises ranked top 20 winning images, 14 Honourable Mentions and 61 Images of Distinction. Scientists, photographers and hobbyists from 70 countries submitted more than 2 000 entries.

Veteran competitor Douglas Moore of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, received second place for his exquisite and colourful image of a polished slab of Teepee Canyon agate. The third-place image by Rebecca Nutbrown of the UK depicts a culture of neurons derived from human skin cells.

“Whether an image provides a rare glimpse into cuttingedge medical research as we saw from our first place winner, or reveals a fun too-close-for-comfort look