Methods of Celluar Biology Flashcards
What is the resolution of the human eye?
100-200μm
When were microscopes invented?
16th century
What are the 7 different types of optical microscopy?
- Transmitted light microscopy
- Bright-field microscopy
- Dark-field microscopy
- Phase contrast microscopy
- Differential interference contrast(polarised light microscopy)
- Fluorescence microscopy
- Confocal microscopy
What are the 2 different types of electron microscopy?
- Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
2. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
Define ‘resolution’
He ability to perceive close objects as separate entities
What is the resolution of a light microscope?
0.2 μm (200nm)
What is the resolution of SEM?
20nm
What is the resolution of TEM?
0.2nm
Define ‘contrast’
The ability to see an object against its background
What 2 lenses are there in optical microscopy?
Ocular (x10) and objective (x10, x40, and x100)
What must be used when using objective lens x100 and why?
Immersion oil, because it increases the numerical aperture
What is transmitted light microscopy (TEM)?
A general term used for any type of microscopy where the light is transmitted from a source in the opposite side of the specimen to the objective lens
How does transmitted light microscopy work?
Light is focused on the specimen to get maximum illumination after crossing a light condenser (producing the Köhler illumination effect)
Light passes through the specimen, crosses the objective lens to magnify the specimen which is further magnified by the ocular lens
What techniques require a transmitted light path?
- bright field
- dark field
- phase contrast
- polarisation
- differential interference contrast
When is bright field microscopy used?
When there is no optical contrast technique is employed
Works well on specimen that already contain contrast/colour
How does bright field microscopy work?
- uses double diaphragm illumination because it employs both a field and an aperture iris diaphragm to set up the illumination
- the condenser focuses parallel rays of light on the specimen, giving an evenly illuminated field so contrast/colour of specimen is visible
How does dark field microscopy work?
Illumination of the specimen is done obliquely (in an angle)
No direct light enters the objective lens to produce a dark field
Features in the specimen plane scatter light and can be clearly seen against a dark back ground
What types of illumination are used in dark field microscopy?
A simple patch stop
A dark-field element in a phase contrast condenser
A purpose built dark-field condenser
What is phase contrast microscopy?
A technique that exploits the fact that light slows down slightly when passing through biological samples
How does phase contrast microscopes work?
- uses phase contrast objectives which have a corresponding phase plate
- the specimen is illuminated by a hollow cone of light coming through a phase annulus in the condenser, light rays are differentially retarded by the specimen structures
- inference between rays that cross the specimen creates a light and dark image of the specimen
How is phase contrast microscopy useful?
For observing transparent and colourless samples