Section 2 - Cell Structure Flashcards
(193 cards)
Define - Magnification
How much an image is enlarged under a microscope.
What is magnification controlled by?
The power of the lens used.
Define - Resolution
The minimum distance apart that two objects can be in order for them to appear as separate items
What is resolution controlled by?
The wavelength of the illumination used
Give ordered list of microscopes and their resolution power?
Light - low
SEM - high
TEM - Highest
What does SEM stand for?
Scanning electron microscope
What does TEM stand for?
Transmission electron microscope
What are the advantages of using a TEM?
Transmission electron microscope
- highest magnification and resolution ( as shorter wavelength of electrons)
- focuses using a condenser electromagnet
- produces 2D photomicrograph (digital)
What are the disadvantages of using a TEM?
Transmission electron microscope
- dead cells
- must be in a vaccum
- must cut specimen (thin specimen)
- complicated preparation may create artefact
- does not produce colour image
Define - Artefact
Error caused with something that is not part of natural specimen
How do TEM’s work?
Transmit electrons through a specimen
How do SEM’s work?
They scan for electrons by detecting electrons that bounce off a specimen.
What are the positives of using SEM’s?
Scanning electron microscope
- high resolution
- specimen doesn’t need to be thin
- focuses using a condenser electromagnet
- produces a 3D image using computer analysis
What are the negatives of using a SEM?
- dead cells
- must be in a vacuum
- complicated preparation may create artefact
- does not produce colour images
How can you calculate magnification?
Magnification = Image size / actual size
How does an eyepiece graticule do?
It helps us measure the size of an object
It is a way to measure with a scale of 10mm and divided into 100 sub-divisions
Why must you calibrate an eyepiece graticule?
All objective lenses have different degrees of magnification
How do you calibrate an eyepiece graticule?
- use a microscope slide called a stage micrometre
- this provides a second scale
- line up the eyepiece graticule scale and the stage micrometre to calculate the length of the divisions on the eyepiece graticule
- To calculate divide the differences in magnification.
- You must give in graticule units (gu) eg. X10 Magnification 1mm = 10gu 1/10mm = 1gu 0.1mm = 1gu
What is cell fractionation?
the process of breaking up cells and different organelles they contain in order to separate the organelles (by size) ready for study
What is the process of cell fractionation?
stage 1 - cold, buffered and isotonic solution
stage 2 - homogenisation
stage 3 - sieve to remove insoluble material
stage 4 - ultracentrifugation
what is stage 1 of cell fractionation?
Place fractionation cells in a cold, buffered and isotonic solution.
what is stage 2 of cell fractionation?
Homogenisation - cells are broken up by a homogeniser to release the organelles
Why are fractionation cells placed in a cold solution?
to reduce enzyme activity that could damage the organelles
Why are fractionation cells placed in a buffered solution?
to maintain a constant pH and prevent protein damage