Cell Biology

Cell structure

Light microscopes
 Invented in the 1600s
 Use a beam of light to form an image of an object
 A light microscope can also be called a compound microscope
 Magnification= size of real image / real size of object

Electron microscope
 Use a beam of electrons to form images of an object
 There are two types of electron microscopes
 Scanning electron microscope (SEM)- it has a large view so it can be used to examine
the surface area of specimens. SEM’s are often used at low magnification.
 Transmission electron microscope (TEM)- it is used to examine 10 slices or sections of
cells or tissues.
 TEM is maximum magnification is x1000000
 But images can be a large beyond that photographically
 TEM has revealed structures in cells that are not visible with light microscopes
 Light microscope Electron microscope

Advantages Cheap to purchase and Magnifies objects up to

operate x1000000
Small and portable, can be It is impossible to investigate a
used almost anywhere greater depth of field
Unaffected by magnetic fields
Preparation of materials are
relatively quick and simple
requiring only a little bit of
expertise
Materials really distorted by
preparation
Natural colour of the material
can be covered

Disadvantage Magnifies objects at 2000x Expensive to purchase and

The depth of field is restricted
operate
Very large and not portable
Must be used in a special room
that is the conditions needed for
the microscope to function
Affected by magnetic fields
Preparation of material is
lengthy and requires
considerable expertise and
sometimes complex equipment
Preparation of materials may
disort it
All images are in black-and-whit

How to use light microscopes

*(When talking about “objective” it means the objective lens)

1. Rotate the objective lens so that the lower power objective e.g 10x is in line with the
stage.
2. Turn the close focus so that the stage is as close to the objective lens as possible
(shouldn’t look to the microscope to do this).
 3. Placed a microscope slide on the stage. Line it up so that the specimen is in the
centre of the stage where the light passes through.
4. Look through the microscope and focus the site would you by turning the course
focus adjustment.
5. Record a lower power image or record a digital image of what you see.
6. Then rotate the objective so that the high-power objective e.g x40 is in line with the
stage.
7. Bring slide into focus by using the fine focus adjustment (if you do not succeed go
back against the lower power and re-focus that then try again)

Microscopes
 1950s- Dutch spectacle maker Janssen experimented with putting lenses in a tubes.
He made the first compound microscope but none of the microscopes had survived.
They are due to have been magnified from x3 to x9.
 1650- British scientist Robert Hooke observed And drew cells using a compound
microscope.
 Late 1600s Dutch scientist Antoni van Leeuwenhoek constructed a microscope with a
single spherical lens. It magnified up to x275.
 1800s- The optical quality of lenses had increased and the microscopes are similar to
the ones we use today.

Experiment

Animal cell (cheek cell)

1. put a small drop of water on the microscope slide.
2. Gently swap a cotton bud inside your mouth.
3. Softly rob the cotton bud in a drop of water.

Plant cell (onion cell)

1. Put a small drop of water on the microscope slide.
2. Peel some onion skin from inside one of the leaves in an onion bulb.
3. Use forceps to transfer it to the drop of water. Make sure that onion skin is flat and
there are no trapped air bubbles.
4. Stain cells with iodine.

Other biological structures

1. Put a small job of glycerol on the microscope slide.
2. Cut a small piece of the hair or fur.
3. Use forceps to transfer it to the top of glycerol.
4. Placed a coverslip (small square piece of glass) over the specimen.
5. Put a drop of the stain on the slide next to the coverslip.
6. Place a piece of wood paper next to the coverslip, it will draw the stain under it.
  It’s important no air bubbles are trapped under the cover slip
 Stains are used to add contrast most cells are colourless
 Certain stains can be used to stain specific cell structures of cell products

Risks
 Care must be taken while looking down at the microscope in case the illumination is
too bright
 Care must be taken when using microscope stains
 Care must be taken when handling coverslips microscope slides and mounted
needles

Draw the image

 Record microscope images using label diagrams or produced digital images
 When first examining cells or tissue with a low Power you’re an image at this stage
even if you go onto examine the image with a high power

 Low power diagram- shows any distinct region of to the tissue

 High power diagram- shows individual cell structures

Animal cells and plant cells

  Mitochondria is visible with a Light Microscope but can’t be seen in detail.
 Ribosomes are only available with Electron Microscopes.

Functions
Cytoplasm Jelly like material that contains dissolved nutrients
salts and structures called organelle. Where chemical
reactions happen.
Nucleus Contains genetic material including DNA which
controls cell activities.
Cell membrane Controls movement of substances in and out of the
cell this permeable to some substances.
Mitochondria Organelles that contain the enzyme for respiration
and where most energy is released in respiration.
Ribosomes A tiny organelle where protein synthesis occurs.
*Chloroplast Organelle that contains green pigment chlorophyll
which absorbs light energy for photosynthesis.
Cell wall Made from Cellulose fibres and strengthens the cell
and supports the plant
Permanent Filled with so sap to keep the cell turgid
vacuole

Measuring cell size

 Cell size can be measured using an eyepiece graticule.
 Stage micrometer- glass slide with scale etched on it.

Method:
1. Places stage micro meter on the stage of the microscope.
2. Lineup one of the divisions on the eyepiece graticule .
3. Count the number of divisions on the eyepiece graticule that corresponds with the
set measurement on the stage micrometer.
4. Calculate the difference in micro meters of one division on the eyepiece graticule.