Microscopes Flashcards
(31 cards)
What are the principles of a light microscope ?
-long wavelength light shone on specimen
What can you see with a light microscope?
Nucleus
Nucleolus
Cell membrane
Cytoplasm
Advantages of a light microscope
-colour images can use living samples
Disadvantages of a light microscope
-lower resolution due to long wavelength of light
lower magnification
-smaller organelles in cells are not visible
-max magnification is x1500
-max resolution is 0.2 micrometers
What are the principles of a scanning electron microscope?
-scans electrons across surface of objects
-knocks of electrons which are gathered by cathode to form
What can you see with a scanning electron microscope?
Surface of a specimen eg shape of cell
Advantages of an SEP
Higher magnification
Higher resolution
Details on image (texture and 3d depth )
Thick specimens
Disadvantages of an SEP
[samples must be in a vacuum ]
Lower resolution than TEM(20nm)
What are the principles of a transmission electron microscope?
Beam of electrons focused by electromagnet
Some parts absorb elements and appear dark
Extremely thin specimens
What can you se with a TEM?
Chloroplasts,mitochondria ,Golgi, E.R, ribosomes ,lysosomes, cell wall
Advantages of a TEM
Higher resolution than light microscope due to shorter wavelength of electron beam
Disadvantages of TEM
Need a vacuum so can’t view living specimens
Complex staining process
Black and white image
Very thin specimens needed
Image contains artefact
Define magnification
How many time larger rhe image is compared to the object
Define resolution
Minimum distance between two objects in which they can still be wirewed as separate
How many millimetres in a metre?
0.001
10^-3
How many micrometers in a metre?
0.000001
10^-6
How many nanometres are in a metre ?
0.000000001
10^-9
Magnification calculation
Image/actual
Resolution define resolution
The resolution or resolve in power of microscope is a minimum distance apart that two objects can be in order for them to appear as separate items
What is necessary to study the structure and function of various organelles?
In order to study the structure and functions of the various organelles make up cells is necessary to obtain large numbers of isolated organelles
Define cell fractionation
The process where cells are broken up the different organelles they contain are separated out
What is the tissue placed in before cell fractionation can begin ?
Before cell fractionation can begin the tissue is placed in a cold buffered solution of the same water potential as the tissue
Describe the solution for cell fractionation
-cold-to reduce enzyme activity that might break down the organelles
-is of the same water potential as the tissue – to prevent organise bursting or shrinking as a result of osmotic gain or loss of water
-buffered-so that the pH does not fluctuate. Any changed in pH could alter the structure of the organelles or affect the functioning of enzymes
What are the two stages of cell fractionation?
Homogenation
Ultracentrifugation