The PALM MicroBeam laser microdissection system provides for non-contact (contamination-free) isolation of homogeneous specimens from tissue or the acquisition of living cells, which facilitates the molecular analysis of DNA, RNA and proteins. The integration of various modules permits flexible upgrades for future tasks. Living cells are handled gently, from preparation and cutting right up to catapulting. The possibility of extracting and analyzing small quantities of starting material opens up new applications in, for example, pathology and cancer research, as well as in stem cell research and individualized medicine. The system is enhanced by image analysis techniques such as multi-channel fluorescence and extended focus.