Microscopes

The first microscope, which year and who invented it

Robert Hooke, 1665, and was a light microscope

What is a light microscope

Has two lenses: objective lens and an eye piece lens, these allow for a much higher magnification. Low magnification and lower resolution ( because of the limitation of the wavelength and diffraction of light)

Dry mount

Regular, no staining no nothing special

Wet mount

Specimens are put in a liquid, cover slip must be placed at a 45 angle

Squash slide

Wet mount is prepared, but then you squash the sample whilst the coverslip is on. Good technique for soft samples

Smear slide

The edge of the slide is used to smear the sample, creating a thin even coating

Why do we need stains

Cytosol are often transparent, stains increase contrast. The increase in contrast allows for components to become visible so they can be identified

What are the two staining techniques

Gram stain technique and Acid-fast technique

What does magnification mean?

How many times larger the image is than the actual size of the object being viewed.

What does resolution mean?

The ability to see individual objects as separate entities. Can be increased by using a shorten wavelength