2.1 Flashcards
Electron micrograph
Photograph of an image seen using an electron microscope
Magnification
Number of times larger an image appears, compared with size of object
Organelles
Small structure within cells, each of which has specific function
Photomicrograph
Photograph of an image seen using optical microscope
Resolution
Clarity of an image, higher the resolution, the clearer the image
What is magnification
How much bigger ab image appears compared to original object
What type of magnification do microscopes produce
Linear magnification
Why do we say that microscopes magnification is linear
Is specimen is magnified by x100, then it is seen as 100times wider and longer than it is
What is resolution
Ability of optical instruments to see/ produce an image that shows fine detail clearly
Give an example of something with high resolution
UHD television is extremely clear and sharp images on the screen
What are optical microscopes useful in understanding
Basic cell structure
Where are optical microscopes used
Schools, hospitals and research labs
Why are optical microscopes used in schools and hospitals
Cheap, easy to use, portable and able to study a living specimen
What does optical microscope rely on to work
Lenses focusing a beam of light
What is an optical microscope magnification
x1500-x2000
What does optical microscope enable use to see
Larger cell structures
What does optical microscopes limited resolution mean
They can’t magnify more whilst producing a clear image
How does an optical microscope work
They use visible light on electromagnetic spectrum (400-700nm), so structures closer together than 200nm will appear one object such as ribsomes which are only 20nm
How would you analyse a specimen on a light microscope
1.put specimen on slide and clip into place with stage clips 2.rotate nose piece till low power objective lens is over specimen 3.adjust coarse focus knob and fine focus knob whilst looking into eyepiece until image is clear and focused 4.adjust iris diaphragm for optimum light 5.make sure specimen is directly over hole on the stage and turn to x10 lens and refocus with knobs 6.repeat step 5 with x40 objective lense
What is the equation for total magnification
Magnifying power of objective lens x magnifying power of eyepiece lense
What is a photomicrograph
Photo of image seen using optical microscope
How does a laser scanning microscope work
Uses laser to scan object point by point and assemble by computer pixel information into one image, displayed on a computer screen
Are image high or low resolution on laser scanning microscope and do they show contrast
High resolution and show contrast
How can laser scanning microscopes observe whole living specimen as well as individual cells
They have depth selectivity so can focus on structures at different depths in specimen
Where and when are laser scanning microscopes used
Used in medical professions, to observe fungal filament within cornea of eye in patients who have fungal infection, used in branches of biological research
What must be done to the specimen before using it in a transmission electron microscope
Specimen must be chemically fixed by being dehydrated and stained
How does transmission electron microscope work
Beam of electrons pass through specimen (stained with metal salts which can harm user) some electrons pass through and are focused on screen or photographic plate
What kind of image does a transmission electron microscope form
A 2D b&w image, when photographed called an electron micrograph
What magnification does transmission electron microscope have
x2,000,000 - x50,000,000
What happens in scanning electron microscope
Electrons don’t pass through specimen but causes secondary electrons to reflect off specimen surface and then be focused onto a screen
Does scanning electron microscope produce 2/3D image
3D
What is magnification of scanning electron microscope
x15 - x200 000
In scanning electron microscope what colour is the image
B&w but computer software adds false colours to make it easier to see different structures
What must specimen be dead before being used in scanning electron microscope
As specimen must be placed in a vacuum and often coated with a fine film of metal
How does an electron microscope work
Beams fast travelling electrons with wavelength of 0.004nm, electrons fired from cathode and focused by magnet rather than glass lenses onto screen or photographic plate
Why is electron microscope better than optical microscope
Greater resolution so used to giver clear and highly magnified images
Why is fast travelling electrons have better resolution than optical microscope
They have x125000 smaller wavelength than central part of visible light spectrum
Why are electron microscopes not as commonly used
Both types require lots of training, are expensive and large so cannot be moved easily
What size is an atom and what microscope can see it
0.1nm and electron microscope
What size is lipid and what microscope can see it
1nm and electron microscope
What size is ribosomes and what microscope can see It
10nm and electron microscope
What size if influence virus and what microscope can see it
100nm and light and electron microscope
What size are mitochondria, chloroplast and bacterium and what microscope can see it
1um and electron and light microscope
What size is human cheek cell and human ovum and what can see it
10um and electron and light microscope
Down to what size can the human eye see
1m - 1mm
What is the smallest thing human eye could see
Amoeba
What is the resolving power
Minimum distance two points must be separated in order for them to be seen as two separate points like microscope resolution is 0.2um
Advantages of electron microscope
Use electron beam instead of light and use electromagnets instead of glass lenses
Resolution of electron microscope
1nm
Disadvantage of electron microscope
Material must be dead as it is done in a vacuum
What specimen can you view under light microscope
Living organisms like paramecium and amoeba and smear preparations of human blood and cheek cell and thin sections of animal, plant and fungi tissue such as bone, muscle, leaf, root, or fungal hayphae
Why must biological structures be stained before viewing
Many structures are colourless and transparent, such as single felled organisms (paramecium)
What do some light microscopes use instead of staining
Light interference such as using a dark background to illuminate specimen
When is light interference most useful
Useful for studying living specimens and you can observe this with school light microscopes by adjusting iris diaphragm to reduce illumination of specimen
What are stains
Coloured chemicals that bind to molecules or on the specimen that makes them easy to see
Give an example of an all purpose stain
Methylene blue
What is differential staining
Where some stains bind to specific cell structures, staining each differently so structure can be easily identified within a single preparation