Table of Contents

i. What is a cell?

ii. About Cell Biology

iii. Microscope and microscopy

iv. Use of microscope in cell biology

v. Discoveries made by microscope in cell biology

vi. Recent researches by microscope

vii. Future of microscopy in cell biology

viii. Conclusion

ix. References
i. What is a cell?
A cell is a membrane bounded entity which contains all essential particles for life
to exist. It is basically the ‘building block’ of life.
A cell may be prokaryotic or eukaryotic depending upon the presence or absence
of membrane bounded organelles.
Cells may exist individually or in the form of clusters and colonies. They also
combine to form tissues which build multicellular organisms in which division of
labor is present.
The diameter of prokaryotic cells ranges from 0.1-0.5 µm while the eukaryotic
cells have their diameter ranging from 10-100 µm.

ii. About cell biology:

The branch of biology which deals with the formation, structure, components and
functions of a cell is called cell biology. This is major branch of biology closely
linked with medical sciences, microbiology, genetics, biotechnology and
biochemistry.
iii. Microscope and microscopy:
 Microscopy:
The technique of using microscope to view objects that that are not visible to
human naked eye. It involves the diffraction, reflection and refraction of light or
electron beam due to interaction with the specimen. These scattered radiations
are collected to form a magnified image of the specimen.

 Microscope:
Microscope is an instrument which magnifies the image of an object
allowing us to examine and analyze minute structures.

 Resolution power: is the ability of a microscope to distinguish between

two objects placed at a minimum distance.

 Magnification: is the measure of image enlargement by the microscope.

 Types of microscopes:

1) Simple Microscope:
This microscope generally consists of a single convex lens with a holder for
specimen. It is considered as the first microscope created by Robert Hooke and
Antony van Leeuwenhoek used it to observe bacteria.

2) Compound Microscope:
Compound microscope consist of two lenses. Ocular lens and Objective lens.
There are four types of objective lens upon which the magnification of specimen
depends. It can resolve between two objects which are at the minimum distance
of 0.2µm.
o If light is used as a source to illuminate the specimen, it is called Light
microscope.
o If UV rays are used instead of light, it is called fluorescent microscope
and its resolving power is greater than light microscope.

3) X-Ray Microscope:
This microscope uses x-rays to produce an enlarged image of small objects. The
magnified image is recorded on a phosphor film. Its best resolving power is up to
9nm.

4) Electron Microscope:
Electron microscope uses electron beam to produce the image of the specimen.
The wavelength of electron beam is smaller so it has greater resolving power and
magnification. It is also used to examine the sub-cellular structures. However, one
limitation about use of electron microscope is that it operates in vacuum hence
we cannot study living cells. The resolving power of an electron microscope is
about 0.2nm and it can magnify an image up to 2,000,000X.
o Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM): scans the specimen by electron beam
and produces a 3D image of the surface of specimen.

o Transition Electron Microscope (TEM): uses thin divided portions of

specimen and is used to study the detail of internal compartments of the
cell.

o Cryo-electron Microscope: is a type of TEM in which the specimen is viewed

at cryogenic temperature (-150°C to -273°C). It requires very small sample
for the determination of structure.
iv. Use of Microscopy in Cell Biology:
Microscopes act as a back bone in study of cell biology. Biological systems at cell
level are very complex and minute which cannot be seen by naked eye. Use of
microscope has enabled the cell biologists to study detailed structure and
function of a cell. The first microscope that was invented, magnified the image of
specimen up to some extent so intricate parts of cell could be studied but only
magnification was enough to study detailed structure of the cell.
Another aspect of use of microscope in cell biology is that it provides resolution
due to which two different cells can be distinguished. This helps to separate every
cell of a tissue and study different cells separately.
In cell biology, microscope is used to study cell structure and functions. It has also
allowed us to study the types of cell pathogens. Scientists use microscope to
study their life cycle and functions which helps to produce vaccines or drugs
against them.

v. Discoveries made by Microscope in Cell

Biology:
 The very first microscope of the world was created by Janssen and his
father by merely putting several lenses in a tube.

 The first person to use microscope for discovery of cell was Robert Hooke,
who studied cork tissue and first time used the term ‘Cell’.

 In 1674, Antony van Leeuwenhoek first time observed bacteria, yeast and
blood cells in a drop of water.
  In 1833, Robert Brown described nucleus of cell.

 Flemming discovered mitotic cell division and chromosomes in 1879.

 In 1898, Golgi described Golgi apparatus.

Further many discoveries were made by microscope in cell biology which continue
up to the present day.

vi. Recent researches in Cell biology by

Microscope:
Recently many complex studies have been made by microscope in cell biology.
Highlights of two such cases are given below:

1. Atomic structure of the Epstein-Barr virus portal:

Epstein-Barr is a Herpesviridae pathogen which infects B-cells and epithelial cells
causing infectious mononucleosis and cancer. No vaccines or drugs are available
for this pathogen. Viral portal protein plays an important role in capsid
arrangement and DNA packaging. This portal protein is important for
pharmaceutical research because it is the entrance and exit gate for viral genome.
The structure of this portal protein has been determined by cryo-electron
microscopy at 3.5Å resolution.
 2. The pore structure of Clostridium perfringens epsilon
toxin:
Clostridium perfringens produces Epsilon toxin (pore forming toxin) which plays a
role in multiple sclerosis in humans. A monomer to dissolve Etx was created in
2004 but the pore remains intact. The structure of this pore has been determined
by cryo-electron microscopy which will help to generate therapeutics.
vii. Future of Microscopy in Cell Biology:
In future, there are two main interests in microscopy:
 Live-cell Imaging: which will allow real time monitoring of cell functions and
statistical analysis.
 Super-resolution Microscopy: which will allow to study separately the
structures which are close together.

viii. Conclusion:
Hence, microscopes can be called as fundamental instruments in cell biology
without which study of cell cannot be done due to its extremely small size.
Microscopic techniques will help us to fight different pathogens for a disease-free
world and to understand complex cell structure.

ix. References:
https://www.nature.com/scitable/topic/cell-biology-13906536/

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/high-school-biology/hs-cells/hs-
introduction-to-cells/a/microscopy

https://sciencing.com/different-kinds-microscopes-uses-5024481.html

https://careertrend.com/info-10017889-importance-microscope-study-
cells.html
https://www.microscopemaster.com/life-sciences.html

https://www.microscopemaster.com/cell-theory.html

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-11706-8#Abs1

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-10645-8

https://bitesizebio.com/166/history-of-cell-biology/

https://www.future-science.com/doi/full/10.2144/btn-2018-0054