IF

Abbreviation with 2 meanings

IF
Stands forImmunofluorescence
Meanings2
CategoriesScience & Engineering

IF has two meanings. It stands for Immunofluorescence (biology) or Intermediate frequency (electronics & electrical).

Meanings of IF at a glance

#IF stands forContext
1ImmunofluorescenceScience & Engineering › Biology
2Intermediate frequencyScience & Engineering › Electronics & Electrical

1. Immunofluorescence

Science & Engineering · Biology Abbreviations

Technique that labels proteins in cells or tissue sections with fluorescently tagged antibodies so they can be seen under a fluorescence or confocal microscope. Multiple colors can be combined to show where different proteins sit relative to each other.

Example: IF revealed that the mutant protein accumulated in the nucleus instead of the cytoplasm.

Direct IF uses a labeled primary antibody, while indirect IF adds a labeled secondary antibody for stronger signal. Clinically, IF on skin and kidney biopsies diagnoses autoimmune diseases. The same letters mean intermediate frequency in electronics.

2. Intermediate frequency

Science & Engineering · Electronics & Electrical Abbreviations

Fixed frequency to which a radio receiver shifts incoming signals before amplifying and filtering them, making it easier to achieve good selectivity across a whole tuning range. Common values are 455 kHz for AM radios and 10.7 MHz for FM.

Example: The receiver's IF filter is 2.4 kHz wide, ideal for voice on single sideband.

Edwin Armstrong invented the superheterodyne receiver, which uses an intermediate frequency, in 1918; nearly all radios used it for the rest of the century. Software-defined radios often digitize at an IF or directly at baseband. In biology IF means immunofluorescence.

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More electronics & electrical abbreviations

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Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.