Cell Structure Flashcards
what is the definition of magnification?
how much bigger the image is than the specimen
how do you calculate magnification?
magnification = image size ÷ object size
how do you convert between units?
millimeter (mm) – x1000 –> micrometer (um) – x1000 –> nanometer (nm) – x1000 –> picometer (pm)
what is the definition of resolution?
how well a microscope can distinguish between two points that are close together
it refers to how much detail can be seen in the image
label this microscope
what is the eye piece graticule?
the scale fitted onto the eyepiece of a microscope
it has numbers but no units
what is the scale micrometer?
a microscope slide with an accurate scale and units
what is the scale micrometer used for?
to work out the value of divisions on the eye piece graticule at a particular magnitude
what are the 4 types of microscope?
- light microscope
- laser scanning confocal microscope
- transmission electron microscope (TEM)
- scanning electron microscope (SEM)
how does a light microscope work?
- light passes from the condenser lens, through the specimen, where certain wavelengths are filtered to produce an image
- the light then passes through the objective lens, which focuses it and can be changed in order to alter the magnification
- finally, the light passes through the eyepiece lens into the eye, which can also be changed to alter the magnification
how do you use a light microscope?
- clip the slide onto the stage
- select the lowest powered objective lens (the one that produces the lowest magnification)
- use the coarse adjustment knob to move the objective lens to just above the slide
- look down the eyepiece and adjust the focus with the fine adjustment knob until the image is clear
- swap to a higher powered (magnified) objective lens if needed and refocus
what is the maximum resolution of a light microscope?
0.2um
what is the maximum magnification of a light microscope?
x1500
what are the properties of the image seen through a light microscope?
- 2D
- colorless
how does a laser scanning confocal microscope work?
- a laser beam is focused through a lens which is aimed at a beam splitter
- this splits the beam and some of the light is directed towards the specimen
- when the laser hits the dyes, it causes them to give off fluorescent light, which is focused through a pinhole onto a detector (meaning any out-of-focus light is blocked)
- the detector is hooked up to a computer which generates an image
what is a laser scanning confocal microscope used for?
to look at different objects at different lengths in thick specimens
what are the properties of the image seen through a laser scanning confocal microscope?
- 2D
- can be 3D if multiple images are combined together
how does a transmission electron microscope work?
- a beam of electrons is transmitted through the specimen via a vacuum focused by electromagnets
- denser parts of the specimen absorb more electrons which makes them appear darker on the image
what is the maximum resolution of a transmission electron microscope?
0.0002um
what is the maximum magnification of a transmission electron microscope?
x1000000 plus
what are transmission electron microscopes used to look at?
- very small organelles (as they provide very high resolution images)
- internal structures of organelles in detail
what are the properties of the image seen through a transmission electron microscope?
- 2D
- black and white
what are the disadvantages of a transmission electron microscope?
- the specimen used must be quite thinly sliced which may be hard to source
- the angle you cut the specimen can affect how they appear
- cant be done on a living specimen (only dead)
- doesn’t produce colored images
- a lot of preparation is needed to prepare the specimen
how does a scanning electron microscope work?
- a beam of electrons is beamed across the specimen
- this knocks off electrons from the specimen, which are gathered in a cathode ray tube to form an image
what is the maximum resolution of a scanning electron microscope?
0.002um
what is the maximum magnification of a scanning electron microscope?
x500000
what are scanning electron microscopes used to look at?
the surface of the specimen
what are the properties of the image seen through a scanning electron microscope?
- 3D
- black and white
what are the disadvantages of a scanning electron microscope?
- gives lower resolution images that the transmission electron microscopes
- cant be done on a living specimen (only dead)
- doesn’t produce colored images
- a lot of preparation is needed to prepare the specimen
why are electron microscopes better than light microscopes?
- they have a higher resolution so give more detailed images
- this is due to electrons having a much smaller wavelength than light waves
how do you mount a dry specimen?
- cut a thin slice of specimen so that light can pass through
- using tweezers, pick it up and place it in the center of a clean slide
- place a cover slip on top
what 4 examples that dry mounts used on?
- hairs
- pollen
- parts of insects
- parts of flowers
how do you mount a wet specimen?
- pipette a small drop of liquid onto the slide
- use tweezers to place the specimen on top
- place the cover slip at a 45 degree angle to the slide and lower onto it (to prevent air bubbles)
- add a stain by placing a drop next to one edge of the cover slip and a piece of paper towel next to the opposite edge, to draw the stain across the specimen
what are 3 examples that wet mounts are used on?
- blood samples
- living specimens (e.g. tiny aquatic organisms)
- specimens that are in a liquid (usually water)
why might you need to stain a specimen?
- in order to view it clearly under a microscope (especially if its transparent)
- to allow different components of a cell to be seen clearly under a microscope
- to highlight metabolic processes
- to differentiate between living and dead cells
how does cellular staining work?
different parts of the cell take up more stain than others, allowing different parts of the cell to be seen
why may you need to use different stains?
you can use more than 1 stain as different stains are used to make different parts of the cell show up
name 3 examples of stains
- methylene blue
- cormine
- eosin
what color does methylene blue turn what?
turns cells/nuclei blue
what color does cormine turn what?
turns glycogen red