DAT Microscopy
Fixation - ANS Getting cells to "stick" in its most alive form
-Heat fixation is an example of this
Heat fixation - ANS Fresh cells are placed on one side of a microscope slide and the other side
is heated with a bunsen burner flame
Staining - ANS Adding colors to the cells sample with stains or dyes
-The alcohol present in the stains will kill the cells in most cases
-Staining is used for live cells (which end up dead via staining) or for cells that are already dead
Optical Microscopy - ANS Shining light on a sample
-Can be used to observe living cells
-Light bounces off sample and into a series of lenses which magnify the image of the cell(s)
Electron Microscopy - ANS Bombarding a sample with electrons
-Produces a higher resolution image than optical microscopy
-Electrons bounce off of several magnetic fields, eventually landing on a screen
-Data viewed indirectly
-Cells must be fixed, stained, and killed
-Uses metal coat and vacuum
Stereo Microscopes (Type of Optical Microscopy) - ANS Low magnification abilities for
observing the surface of samples
-Think S-stereo , S-surface
-Also called dissection microscopes
Compound Microscopes (Type of Optical Microscopy) - ANS View one cell thick, live cells
-More than one lens for customizable magnification
-Chosen magnification "compounds" with magnification from eyepiece
-Negative: Gives poor contrast
-Contrast is enhanced with staining but this would kill the cell
Bright Field Microscopes (Type of Optical Microscopy) - ANS Compound Microscopes with a
bright light to illuminate the sample
Phase Contrast Microscopes (Type of Optical Microscopy) - ANS To visualize thin samples of
live cells
-Provide high contrast so no fixing or staining is needed
Fixation - ANS Getting cells to "stick" in its most alive form
-Heat fixation is an example of this
Heat fixation - ANS Fresh cells are placed on one side of a microscope slide and the other side
is heated with a bunsen burner flame
Staining - ANS Adding colors to the cells sample with stains or dyes
-The alcohol present in the stains will kill the cells in most cases
-Staining is used for live cells (which end up dead via staining) or for cells that are already dead
Optical Microscopy - ANS Shining light on a sample
-Can be used to observe living cells
-Light bounces off sample and into a series of lenses which magnify the image of the cell(s)
Electron Microscopy - ANS Bombarding a sample with electrons
-Produces a higher resolution image than optical microscopy
-Electrons bounce off of several magnetic fields, eventually landing on a screen
-Data viewed indirectly
-Cells must be fixed, stained, and killed
-Uses metal coat and vacuum
Stereo Microscopes (Type of Optical Microscopy) - ANS Low magnification abilities for
observing the surface of samples
-Think S-stereo , S-surface
-Also called dissection microscopes
Compound Microscopes (Type of Optical Microscopy) - ANS View one cell thick, live cells
-More than one lens for customizable magnification
-Chosen magnification "compounds" with magnification from eyepiece
-Negative: Gives poor contrast
-Contrast is enhanced with staining but this would kill the cell
Bright Field Microscopes (Type of Optical Microscopy) - ANS Compound Microscopes with a
bright light to illuminate the sample
Phase Contrast Microscopes (Type of Optical Microscopy) - ANS To visualize thin samples of
live cells
-Provide high contrast so no fixing or staining is needed
