microscopes

• electron microscope (EM)

  • a beam of electrons used to create the image
  • the beam of electrons has a very short wavelength resulting in a higher resolution
  • image created using electromagnets which are used to focus the beam of electrons
  • electrons are absorbed in the air and so EMs have to be used in a vacuum therefore only non living samples can be used
  • image produced is black and white and 2D
• transition electron microscope (TEM)

  • type of EM
  • high magnification and resolution
  • the specimen has to be very thin
  • thin specimen is stained and placed into a vacuum
  • beam of electrons passes through the specimen to create the image
  • the image produced is 2D and useful for visualising internal structures of organelles
• scanning electron microscope (SEM)

  • similar to TEMs - high resolution and high magnification
  • specimen doesn't have to be thin
  • electrons bounce of the surface to create image
  • image produced is 3D
• lasser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM)

  • a type of fluorescent microscope
  • image created using very high light intensity which illuminates the specimen
  • combines the benefits of high resolution and depth selectivity
  • creates a 2D image