cell structure Flashcards
what are the four types of microscope?
• light microscopes
• transmission electron microscopes
• scanning electron microscopes
• laser scanning confocal microscopes
describe light microscopes
• poor resolution due to the long wavelength of light
• living samples can be examined and a colour image can be obtained
• observed through two lenses - objective and eyepiece lens
how do you use a light microscope?
- clip the slide onto the stage
- select the lowest powered objective lens
- use the coarse adjustment knob to raise the stage
- adjust the focus with the fine adjustment knob until a clear image is obtained
- swap to a higher powered lens if needed and refocus
what is resolution?
the minimum distance between two adjacent objects in which they can still be viewed as separate
what is magnification?
how many times larger the image is compared to the object
what is resolution determined by in optical microscopes, and electron microscopes?
optical microscopes: wavelength of light
electron microscopes: wavelength of electrons
what are dry mounts?
• when thin slices or whole specimens are viewed with just the coverslip on top
• e.g hair
what are wet mounts?
• when the specimens have water added to them before lowering the coverslip (a mounted needle should be used to prevent bubbles from forming or lowering coverslip at a 45° angle)
• aquatic organisms are viewed this way
what are squash slides?
• wet mounts involve you pushing down on the coverslip to allow light to pass through them
• e.g a root tip squash sample to see the chromosomes in mitosis
what are smear slides?
• slides created by using the edge of another slide to smear a sample across the slide, allowing a smooth thin specimen to be created.
• e.g blood cells in a blood sample
what is the difference between an eyepiece graticule and a stage micrometer?
• an eyepiece graticule is already fitted onto the eyepiece lens
• a stage micrometer is placed onto the stage
how do you calibrate the eye piece graticule ?
• by using a stage micrometer
1. line up the stage micrometer and eyepiece graticule
2. count how many devisions on the graticule fit onto the micrometer scale
3. each division on the micrometer is worth 10um
• e.g if two divisions fit onto one division on the micrometer you do 10/2 = 5um
what is the magnification formula
size of the image / size of the real object
how do transmission electron microscopes work?
electron beams pass through the specimen
what is the magnification of transmission electron microscopes
upto x 500, 000
what is the resolution of transmission electron microscopes?
0.5 nm
what are the benefits of transmission electron microscopes?
• high magnification and resolution
• enables intracellular details to be observed
what are the disadvantages of transmission and scanning electron microscopes
• very expensive
• black and white images produced (however artificial colour can be added)
• only dead specimens can be viewed as they are in a vacuum
how do scanning electron microscopes work?
• electrons are reflected back from the specimen and detected
what is the magnification of scanning electron microscopes?
upto 100, 000 x