Microscopy

Question 1

Components of Standard Brightfield Microscope

Answer 1

Light source
Condenser lens
Stage
Objective and ocular lens

Question 2

Deconvolution

Answer 2

Computer software deigned to remove background and out of focus (blurry) light

Increases contrast and clarity

Question 3

Resolution

Answer 3

Minimum distance between 2 objects that they remain identifiable as separate points

Depends on wavelength of light and numerical aperatue (NA)

Resolution= (0.61 x wavelength) / NA

Question 4

NA

Answer 4

§ Light gathering qualities of the objective lens and mounting medium

Question 5

Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM)

Answer 5

Similar set up to standard brightfield light microscope, but with a few additional features

One or more laser allow only certain wavelengths of light to strike and excite the specimen

Specimen can be “fixed” (non-living)

Endogenous molecules in fixed specimen can be visualized by autofluorescnece (i.e chlorophyll) or using applied antibodies (immunofluorescence)