Microscopes
The invention of the microscope in the 17th century led to the discovery of the cell.
Robert Hooke described cells using this light microscope.
Modern Microscopes
• Visible light is focused on the specimen with the condenser lens.
• Light passing through the
specimen is refracted with
an objective and an ocular
lens (magnify and invert the
image for the observer).
Two Important Properties of Microscopes:
• Magnification – how much larger an object is made to appear.
• Resolving power – minimum distance between two points that can still be distinguished as two separate points.
*limited by the wavelength of light.
*maximum resolution of a LM is 0.2μm.
*highest magnification is 1,000X.
Gallery of Cells
What can you infer about function from the structure of these cells?
Cell Theory
Electron Microscopes
• Instead of light, electron microscopes use electron beams which have much shorter wavelengths (resolving power of 0.2nm).
• Enhanced resolution and magnification led to the identification of subcellular organelles.
• There are two types of electron microscopes: transmission and scanning electron microscopes.
Transmission Electron Microscope
• Electromagnetic lenses.
• Electrons transmitted through the specimen are
focused onto a viewingscreen or film.
• Used to study internal cellular structure.
TEM Images
Scanning Electron Microscope• Electron beam scans the surface of the
specimen.
• Excites secondary electrons on sample.
• Collects secondary electrons and focuses onto a viewing screen.
• Great depth of field – 3D image.
http://www.aimediaserver.com/studiodaily/harvard/harvard.swf
Top Related