This document discusses the use of fluorescence dyes to stain cells and make their structures visible under a microscope. It explains that while early dyes stained broad cellular components, fluorescence dyes have increased specificity by binding to particular proteins or molecules. Common fluorescence dyes excite at specific wavelengths and emit light of longer wavelengths, allowing structures to be seen against a dark background. The document outlines the basic components of a fluorescence microscope and how it works, and notes some applications of fluorescence staining like detecting vitamins, drugs, and lipofuscin deposits in aging cells.