Staining a fish 's bones and connective tissue with dyes , then rendering its flesh transparent with the help of enzymes , makes it easier for biologists to study the creature 's anatomy .
Modern technologies-advances in microscopy , histological staining , biopsies , x-rays , computed tomography ( c. t. ) and magnetic resonance imaging ( m. r. i. ) scans-have given us new possibilities for understanding cancer , but also a new vocabulary of fear .