Summary

Summary Molecular Biology of the Cell - Chapter 9 Notes

1 purchase

Module

Institution
Swansea University (SWAN)

Book
Molecular Biology of the Cell

Notes from the entirety of Chapter 9 from the textbook 'Molecular Biology of the Cell' Sixth edition About microscopy, including light microscopy, electron microscopy, dark-field microscopy, confocal microscopy, phase-contrast microscopes, differential-interference-contrast microscopes, and imager...

[Show more]

Preview 1 out of 4 pages

View example

Summarized whole book? No
Which chapters are summarized? Chapter 9
Uploaded on October 26, 2023
Number of pages 4
Written in 2023/2024
Type Summary

Institution Swansea University (SWAN)
Education Unknown
Module Unknown

£7.49

Add to cart

Save

100% satisfaction guarantee
Immediately available after payment
Both online and in PDF
No strings attached

Molecular Biology of the Cell - Chapter 9 (notes)

● The objective lens collects a cone of light rays to create an image
● The condenser lens focuses a cone of light rays onto each point of the specimen
● Resolution: the resolving power of the microscope depends on the width of the cone
of illumination and therefore on both the condenser and the objective lens
● Numerical aperture: the higher the numerical aperture the greater the resolution
and the brighter the image

Light Microscope
● Light microscope can resolve details 0.2μm apart
● Bacteria and mitochondria, which are about 0.5μm wide, are typically the smallest
structures that can be seen using a light microscope
● Light waves travel through an optical system by a variety of slightly different routes,
do that they interfere with each other and cause optical diffraction effects
● Two trains of waves travelling two different paths which reach the same point and are
precisely in phase will reinforce each other and increase brightness
● Two trains of waves that are out of phase will interfere with each other and cancel
each other either partly or entirely
● The limit of resolution depends on both the wavelength of the light and the
numerical opening of the lens system used
● The numerical aperture affects light-gathering ability of the lens and is related to both
the angle of the cone of light that can enter it, and the refractive index of the medium
the lens is operating in
● Refractive index is the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in
a particular transparent medium
● Although possible to enlarge an image, it is not possible using a conventional light
microscope to resolve two objects in the light microscope that are separated by less
than 0.2μm - they will appear as a single object

Phase-Contrast Microscope/Differential-Interference-Contrast Microscope
● Many ways for contrast to be generated in a specimen - staining a specimen creates
contrast through colour (possibility that some cell components are lost/distorted
during specimen preparation)
● Dark-field microscopy - light rays can be scattered in all directions from objects in
their path. If oblique lighting is arranged and does not enter the objective directly,
focused but unstained components of a cell can scatter the rays, which then create a
bright image against a black background
● When light passes through a living cell, the refractive index of the cell changes the
wavelength of the light (e.g. a thicker part of the cell, like the nucleus, slows the light
passing through it). The phase of light is shifted relative to the light that has passed
through a thinner area of the cell

The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:

Guaranteed quality through customer reviews

Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.

Quick and easy check-out

You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.

Focus on what matters

Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!

Frequently asked questions

What do I get when I buy this document?

You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.

Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?

Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.

Who am I buying these notes from?

Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller bryonyorourke1. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.

Will I be stuck with a subscription?

No, you only buy these notes for £7.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.

Can Stuvia be trusted?

4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)

66184 documents were sold in the last 30 days

Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy revision notes and other study material for 15 years now

Start selling

Summary

Summary Molecular Biology of the Cell - Chapter 9 Notes

Document information

Subjects

Connected book

Written for

Seller

Content preview