Basic structure of living systems Flashcards
Dry mount preparation
- solid species viewed whole or cut into thin slices with a sharp blade
- specimen placed on centre of slide and cover slip placed over sample
- Eg. hair, pollen, dust
Wet mount
- specimens viewed suspended in water or immersion oil
- cover slip placed on from angle
- Eg. aquatic samples
Squash slides
- wet mount is prepared
- lens tissue used to gently press down on cover slip
- damage to cover slip can be avoided by squashing between 2 microscope slides
- Eg. root tip squashes to look at cell division
Smear slides
- edge of a slide used to smear sample creating thin even coating
- cover slip placed over sample
- Eg. blood samples to view cells
why is staining used?
- easier to distinguish between different components under microscope - more visible
examples of stain that can be used to see nuclei?
methylene blue,
Rules for scientific drawing
- title
- magnification
- sharp pencil plane white paper
- no sketch lines
- no shade
- labels
- correct proportions
- label lines with ruler, not crossing and no arrow heads
magnification definition and equation
how many times larger the image is than the actual size of the specimen
actual size=image/magnification
resolution
ability to distinguish between 2 close together objects
light microscope magnification and resolution
- x1500
- 250nm
Transmission electron microscope - how does it work and magnification
- electrons pass through and around specimen, giving contrast
- 2D
- x 500,000
Scanning electron microscope - how does it work and magnification
- electrons reflect off sample - do not go through or pass around
- 3D
- x 100,000
why can’t electron microscopes see in colour?
- there is only one wavelength transmitting (electrons) rather than visible light
advantages of electron microscope
- 0.2nm resolution - 100x more than light microscope
- structured detailed images of organelles in cells
- SEM is 3D - uncovers details of cellular tissue arrangement
disadvantages of electron microscopes
- electron beams deflected by air molecules so sample need to be in vacuum - has to be dead
- expensive - £250,000
- preparing slides requires high skill level and training
what is eukaryote?
- organism with one or more cells containing DNA in membrane-bound nucleus
Nucleus function
- houses nearly all cells’ genetic material