Microscopy

• What are the three different types of microscopes?

  1. Transmission electron microscopes
  2. Light microscopes
  3. Scanning electron microscopes
• What colour do you see in transmission electron microscopes?

  Only black and white
• What happens before you use transmission electron microscopes?

  Need to be trained to use them
• What type of specimens is used in transmission electron microscopes?

  Thin specimens
• What types of beams are in transmission electron microscopes?

  Beams of electrons
• What does transmission electron microscopes use for staining?

  Uses heavy positive ions for staining
• When is transmission electron microscopes usually used?

  Expensive, used mostly in research
• What are the visible organelles in transmission electron microscopes?

  1. Cell wall
  2. Nucleus
  3. Vacuole
  4. Mitochondria
  5. Endoplasmic reticulum
  6. Golgi apparatus
  7. Ribosomes
  8. Chloroplast
  9. Plasmodesmata
  10. Middle lamella
  11. Amyloplasts
• What happens before using scanning electron microscopes?

  Need to be trained to use them
• What types of stains are used in scanning electron microscopes?

  Heavy metal stains
• What does the beam of electrons in scanning electron microscopes hit?

  Beams of electrons hitting surface thus 3D image
• What are the specimens coated in scanning electron microscopes?

  Specimens coated in heavy gold ions
• When is scanning electron microscopes used?

  Expensive, used mainly in research and specialist labs
• What is the resolution and magnification like in scanning electron microscopes?

  Crystal clear resolution at high magnifications
• What are the visible organelles in scanning electron microscopes?

  1. Cell wall
  2. Nucleus
  3. Vacuole
  4. Mitochondria
  5. Endoplasmic reticulum
  6. Golgi apparatus
  7. Ribosomes
  8. Chloroplast
  9. Plasmodesmata
  10. Middle lamella
  11. Amyloplasts
• What are the specimens like in light microscope?

  Thin specimens
• What type of specimens do you see in light microscopes?

  See live specimens
• How expensive are light microscopes?

  Cheaper
• What does light microscope require?

  Requires staining
• What is the magnification like in light microscopes?

  Good magnification
• What is the resolution like in light microscopes?

  Poor resolution
• Are light microscopes easy to use?

  Simple to use
• Which microscopes are most commonly used?

  Light microscopes
• What are the visible organelles in light microscopes?

  1. Plasma membrane
  2. Nucleus
  3. Nucleolus
• How do you recognise organelles in light microscopes?

  To recognise cell organelles in light microscopes due to their size and limited resolution of light microscopy most cellular organelles are not visible