Which type of scatter is proportional to the cell size in a cytometry experiment?

In a cytometry experiment, forward scatter (FSC) is a critical parameter used to assess cell size. This parameter measures the light that is scattered in the forward direction as cells pass through a laser beam. The amount of light scattered correlates with the volume (and thus the size) of the cells. Larger cells typically scatter more light in the forward direction than smaller ones; hence, FSC serves as a reliable indicator of cell size.

Forward scatter is essential for distinguishing different cell populations based on their size, which is fundamental for various cytometric analyses, such as identifying and quantifying specific cell types in a sample. This property makes FSC a primary tool in cytometry for size assessment, allowing researchers to sort or analyze cells based on their dimensions accurately.