Methods of studying cells

• Magnification = image size/actual size
• What is resolution?

  The minimum distance apart that two objects can be in order for them to appear as separate items
• What is magnification?

  How many times bigger an object appears than its actual size
• What is cell fractionation?

  The process by which cells are broken up and separated into different organelles
• What three conditions does the solution have to be in order for the tissue sample to be placed in it?

  • Cold - to reduce enzyme activity
  • Isotonic - to prevent water from entering/exiting via osmosis
  • Buffered - to maintain its pH
• Describe the process of cell fractionation,.

  1. Cells broken up by homogeniser to release organelles from cell
  2. The resulting fluid, the homogenate, is filtered to remove any large debris
  3. Ultracentrifugation will separate the cell fragments in the homogenate according to their density