Lecture 2- Cell Structure and Function Flashcards
how does the compound light microscope work?
uses visible light to illuminate
what are the 4 different types of light microscopy?
bright- field
phase- contrast
dark- field
fluorescence
how do specimens get visualized/ seen using a bright- field microscope?
visualized because of differences in contract between specimen and surroundings
the bright- field microscope uses 2 lenses, what are they?
objective lens
ocular lens
what is the maximum magnification of a bright- field microscope?
~2,000x
how does the bright- field microscope work?
light source passes through the specimen, then through the objective lens, then we see the image through the ocular lens
why might we add oil on top of our specimen?
oil changes the diffraction of light and allows us to see the image clearer
what is magnification?
the ability to make an object larger
how do you calculate total magnification?
objective magnification x ocular magnification = total magnification
what happens in magnification is increased a lot?
we wont necessarily have a more clear image, resolution plays a part aswell
what is resolution?
ability to distinguish two adjacent objects as separate and distinct.
ability of a lens to distinguish small objects that are close together
when you’re walking and you see something in the horizon, it takes you a while to see it, that is resolution
what is the limit of resolution for a light microscope?
0.2µm (micrometer), therefore, two points can be distinguished if they are at least 0.2µm apart
as wavelength decreases, what happens to resolution?
increases
what can we use to improve contrast and result with a better final image?
staining!!!
what are characteristics of dyes that we use?
organic compounds
bind to specific cellular materials
what is simple staining?
one dye used to color specimen
what is chromophore?
colored portion of a dye
what are two types of simple staining?
basic dye
acidic dye
how does basic dye work?
its positively charged chromophore so it binds to negatively charged molecules on cell surface
how does acidic dye work?
its negatively charged chromophore (negative stain) so its repelled by cell surface
what is acidic dye used for?
stain background
with basic due we dye the organisms purple, therefore, the background is white
with acidic dye we dye the background purple, therefore, the light shines through the organisms
how do you prepare samples for staining? (6)
- spread some culture in thin film over slide using a loop
- dry in air
- pass slide over flame gently to melt specimen to slide (without killing them!)
- flood slide with stain
- rinse and dry
- put under microscope
what are 3 types of differential staining?
the gram stain
acid fast stain
endospore stain
what is the goal of the gram stain?
separates bacteria into 2 groups based on cell wall structure
what is the process of the gram stain? slide 12.
flood the heat fixed smear with crystal violet (1min)
add iodine solution (1min)
decolorize with alcohol (20sec)
counterstain with safranin (1min)
what color does gram positive turn?
purple
what color does gram negative turn?
red or pink
what does the acid fast stain do?
detects mycolic acid in the cell wall of the genus mycobacterium
what does the mycobacterium do? in acid fast stain
retains primary stain (pink)
what color does the rest of the slide turn in acid fast stain?
blue (color of counterstain)
what occurs in the endospore stain?
endospores retain primary (green)
cells counterstained (pink)
what does phase- contrast microscopy do?
improves the contrast of a sample without the use of a stain
how does phase-contrast microscopy work?
improves contrast without the use of a stain
visualization of live samples
what do you see when you use phase- contrast microscopy?
live samples
image is dark cells on a light background
what do you see with dark field microscopy?
specimen is illuminated with a hollow cone of light
specimen appears as a bright object on a dark background
how does dark field microscopy work?
only refracted light enters (thats why we see what we do)