A chick embryo captured the public's attention and its votes in the 2008 Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition.
The public chose the image, captured by Tomas Pais de Azevedo of Lisbon, Portugal, as its favourite image for recognition as the Popular Vote winner of this year's competition.
Pais de Azevedo is a biology student currently enrolled in a master's course on evolutionary and developmental biology.
Voters chose Pais de Azevedo's image from the 115 finalists featured.
Additionally, Nikon recognised Dr Sharona Even-Ram of Hadassah University Hospital, Ein Kerem in Jerusalem, who received second place in the Popular Vote for an image of a cluster of neurons differentiated from embryonic cells.
Both Pais de Azevedo's and Even-Ram's images were also named Images of Distinction.
'The Popular Vote engages a broad audience of scientists and non-scientists alike and gives everyone the ability to serve as judges,' said Lee Shuett, executive vice president, Nikon Instruments.
