microscopy Flashcards

1
Q

how does a light microscope work?

A

light from a light source underneath the specimen passes through the specimen

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2
Q

what is the resolution of an light microscope?

A

200nm

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3
Q

what is the magnification of an light microscope?

A

x1500

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4
Q

what are the strengths of light microscopes?

A
  • colour image
  • uses live specimens
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5
Q

what are the weaknesses of light microscopes?

A
  • poor resolution
  • 2D image
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6
Q

what do light microscopes allow us to see?

A

whole cells/tissues

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7
Q

why is resolution of a light microscope limited?

A

light has a larger wavelength

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8
Q

how does a transmission electron microscope work?

A

electrons are transmitted through a specimen and denser parts of the specimen absorb more electrons, becoming darker

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9
Q

what is the resolution of a TEM?

A

0.5nm

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10
Q

what is the magnification of a TEM?

A

x1,000,000

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11
Q

what are the strengths of TEMs?

A
  • good resolution
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12
Q

what are the weaknesses of TEMs?

A
  • black and white image
  • 2D image
  • specimens must be dead
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13
Q

what do TEMs allow us to see?

A

small organelles

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14
Q

how do scanning electron microscopes work?

A

electron beam is scanned across the specimen surface and electrons bounce off, gathering in a cathode ray tube

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15
Q

what is the resolution of SEMs?

A

2nm

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16
Q

what is the magnification of SEMs?

17
Q

what are the strengths of SEMs?

18
Q

what are the weaknesses of SEMs?

A
  • black and white image
  • specimen must be dead
19
Q

how do laser scanning confocal microscopes work?

A
  • laser beam focuses on a small area on a sample surface
  • fluorophores in the sample emit photons
  • photomultiplier tube amplifies signal onto a detector
  • image is produced in pixels
20
Q

what is the magnification calculation?

A

mag = image / actual

21
Q

what does magnification mean?

A

how many times larger the image is compared to the object

22
Q

what does resolution mean?

A

the ability to distinguish between two points

23
Q

which lens is the objective?

A

near to specimen

24
Q

which lens is the eyepiece?

A

used to view specimen

25
why are there two lenses on a microscope?
improves magnification
26
what is a dry mount?
a solid specimen viewed whole or sectioned on a slide under a cover slip
27
what is a wet mount?
specimen suspended in liquid with a cover slip placed at an angle
28
how is a squash slide prepared?
- wet mount prepared - lens tissue used to press down cover slip - used for soft samples
29
how is a smear side prepared?
- edge of slide used to smear a sample to create a thin coating - cover slip over top
30
why should specimens on a slide be thin?
avoid air bubbles
31
why is a stain sometimes used?
increase contrast to improve visibility
32
what is differential staining?
distinguishes between two organisms/organelles - positive dye attracts negative cytoplasm materials
33
what is a gram stain?
- separate pos and neg bacteria - crystal violet applied to slide - iodine added - alcohol washes away unbound stain - gram pos appears blue - gram neg doesnt retain stain - counterstain added to stain gram neg
34
what is the acid fast technique?
- differentiates mycobacterium - lipid solvent carries a dye into cells - mycobacterium not affected by acid alcohol cell wash absorbs dye
35
how are mm converted to micrometres?
x1000
36
how are micrometres converted to nm?
x1000
37
how is the actual length of an image calculated using a stage micrometer?
- line up eyepiece graticule with stage micrometer - count how many graticule divisions are in 100 micrometres - number of divisions / 100 = 1 division