Topic 1 Flashcards
Define magnification.
It is the number of times an object is larger than its actual size.
What is the formula for magnification?
Define resolution.
Is the ability of a microscope to distinguish between two points/objects, where the higher the resolution of an image, the greater the details that can be seen.
How is resolution calculated?
Resolution is calculated as about 1/2 of shortest wavelength of the radiation used to view the specimen.
State some units of measurements and their conversions.
- 1 cm = 10⁴ μm = 10⁷ nm
What is the maximum magnification of a light microscope and what does it depend on?
x 1500, and it depends on the strength of the objective and eyepiece lenses.
Why can’t 2 points closer together than 200nm be distinguished as separate?
- As it uses visible light, organelles might be too small to interfere with light.
Why are most biological substances stained before being observed by a light microscope?
If an object is transparent, it will allow light waves to pass through it and therefore it won’t be visible. Staining allows them to become visible.
Describe some features of an electron microscope.
- Electron beam is used, as its wavelength is extremely short.
Why should an electron microscope be used rather than a light microscope?
- Electron beam is used.
Why should a light microscope be used rather than an electron microscope?
- Living specimens can be seen.
What is an eyepiece graticule?
Is a transparent scale of 100 divisions, placed in a microscope eyepiece.
What is a stage micrometer?
A microscope slide with a very accurate scale in micrometers engraved on it, allowing us to calibrate the eyepiece graticule.
Describe a prokaryotic cell.
- Diameter from 0.5-5.0 μm.
Describe a eukaryotic cell.
- Diameter up to 40 μm.
Describe the structure of a virus.
- Non-cellular, very small in size from 20 to 300nm.
Why are viruses called parasites?
They don’t show the typical features of living organisms (don’t feed, respire, excrete, move, grow or respond to the
What are membranous organelles?
These are organelles which are separated from cytoplasm by their membranes to have optimum pH and specific functions.
What do membranous organelles include?
Nucleus, mitochondria, chloroplast, large vacuoles, ER, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, and secretory vesicles.
What do non-membranous organelles include?
Ribosomes, starch grains, glycogen granules, cilia, centrioles, and flagella.
Describe the endoplasmic reticulum.
- It’s a membrane bound organelle.
Describe the structure of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER).
- It is covered with many ribosomes (80S).
Describe the functions of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER).
- Protein/polypeptide synthesis by its ribosomes.
Define glycosylation.
Is the process by which a carbohydrate is covalently attached to a target macromolecule, typically proteins and lipids.
Describe the structure of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER).
- It is not covered with ribosomes.
Describe the function of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER).
Synthesis of lipids and steroids such as cholesterol and the reproductive hormones oestrogen and testosterone.
Describe the structure of ribosomes.
- They are small, non-membranous organelles.
What are the two types of ribosomes?
- 70S which are small (18 nm) and found in prokaryotes, mitochondria and chloroplast.
Describe the function of ribosomes.
- Site of translation and protein synthesis.
Describe the structure of the Golgi apparatus.
- Appears as a stack of flattened membrane bound sacs called cisternae, with no connections between membranes.
How is the stack in Golgi vesicles formed?
The stack is being constantly formed at one end from fusion of vesicles which bud off from the ER and are broken down again at the other end to form Golgi vesicles that can move to the cell membrane to empty its content to the exterior of cell by exocytosis.
Describe the functions of the Golgi apparatus.
- Golgi apparatus collect, process and allow chemical modification of proteins and lipids.
Describe how proteins made by the ribosomes reach the reach the cell surface membrane.
- Proteins synthesized in the ribosomes are attached on the RER.
Describe the structure of lysosomes.
- Exist in nearly all animal cells.
Explain why lysosomes contain hydrolytic enzymes.
To carry out the digestion of:
Where are the enzymes present in lysosomes synthesized?
- Synthesized on RER and transported to Golgi body.