Three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction from serial electron microscopic sections allows detailed analysis of cell structure, and has been used to study the mitochondrion, chromosome number6and feeding apparatus 7of P. falciparum. This approach provides high spatial resolution not available by other means. Effortshave been made to image whole parasitized red blood cells (RBC) by X-ray microscopy8, but the resolving power of this method is as yet considerably inferior tothat of electron microscopy (EM). Using serial section-ing, we have also reconstructed the plastid (apicoplast)9 and the merozoite rhoptry–Golgi complex inthis species10. The illustrations in this Review outline the major features of each stage; it should be borne in mind that development is a continuous dynamic process taking 48 h to complete, with many intermedi-ate stages and complexities that are not shown here.