100% satisfaction guarantee Immediately available after payment Both online and in PDF No strings attached 4.6 TrustPilot
logo-home
Summary

Summary OCR A level biology cell structure notes made from the specification

Rating
-
Sold
-
Pages
3
Uploaded on
01-03-2026
Written in
2025/2026

My OCR A-Level Biology Cell Structure A3 summary sheet is just a clear, no-nonsense page with everything you actually need for the OCR spec. It covers organelles, prokaryotes vs eukaryotes, microscopy, and key definitions in a simple layout that’s easy to scan. No long paragraphs, no waffle — just key terms, and the points examiners look for. Perfect for quick revision the night before a test or when you need everything in one place.

Show more Read less
Institution
OCR

Content preview

​Cell structure​
​ )​
a ​ )​
b c​ )​
​Light microscopes:​ ​calibrating eyepiece graticules and stage micrometers​ ​How to stain a sample​
​●​ ​Light is shone up the base, through the sample, up through the​ ​1.​ ​Use a pipette to place a small drop of water onto the centre of the​
​objective lens into our eye​ ​glass slide​
​●​ ​The specimen used has to be thin so light can pass through it​ ​2.​ ​Use a pair of forceps (tweezers) to place a thin section of the​
​●​ ​The specimen can be alive but sometimes the light causes heat​ ​specimen onto the drop of water.​
​which can damage the organism​ ​3.​ ​The specimen should be thin enough to allow light to pass through.​
​●​ ​Used to look at whole cells and tissues, you cannot see organelle​ ​4.​ ​Add a few drops of stain to the specimen.​
​detail in a light microscope​ ​●​ W ​ hen viewing a specimen you can use an eyepiece graticule to​ ​5.​ ​Slowly add a cover slip on the specimen​
​measure its width and length​
​Electron microscopes:​ ​ ry mounts​​- the specimen is placed directly onto the slide and covered​
D
​●​ ​Eyepiece graticule is a small scale placed within the eyepiece​
​●​ ​Use electrons to form an image​ ​with a cover slip​
​●​ ​Since electrons have a shorter wavelength than light, they have a​ ​●​ ​The scale divisions will represent different real world distances​
​depending on the magnification of the objective lens. This means​ ​c) staining:​
​better resolution than light microscopes​
​Coloured staining binds to chemicals on or in the specimen which allows​
​●​ ​However, they’re more expensive than light microscopes and only​ ​the graticule must be calibrated for each objective lens​
​the specimen to become visible, to see certain organelles and it improves​
​produce black and white images (computers can add colour to​ ​●​ ​A stage micrometre is used to calibrate the graticule​ ​contrast​
​these images)​ ​●​ ​Stage micrometre is a glass slide with a scale measured in​ ​Some stains bind to specific cell structures - eosin stains cytoplasm pink​
​●​ ​These microscopes require complex preparation of specimens so​ ​micrometres​ ​and sudan stains membranes and other lipids black​
​they are more likely to create artefacts.​
​Artefacts = visible details that aren't part of the specimen being observed,​ ​The graticule is calibrated as follows:​
​Differential staining is using more than 1 chemical stain​
​like air bubbles or finger prints​ ​ .​ F
1 ​ ix the stage micrometer into place on the stage.​
​2.​ ​Look through the eyepiece to line up the micrometer and the​
​Transmission electron microscope:​
​graticule.​ i​)​
​●​ ​They use electromagnets to transmit a beam of electrons through a​
​3.​ ​Count the number of graticule divisions that fit into one micrometer​ ​Secretion of proteins (enzymes or hormone)​
​specimen so you can see details inside the specimen​
​division.​ ​●​ ​Normally to produce a protein such as an enzyme or a protein​
​●​ ​The denser parts absorb more electrons so appear darker in the​
​image formed​ ​4.​ ​Use the formula below to calculate the size of each graticule​
​1.​ T ​ he nucleus is producing mRNA which leaves the​​nucleus​​through​
​●​ ​specimens have to be thin enough to allow the electrons to pass​ ​division at that magnification:​ ​the​​nuclear pore​
​through​ ​ raticle division = size of 1 micrometer division / number of graticule​
G ​2.​ ​The mRNA will attach to a​​ribosome​​- the ribosome may be​
​●​ ​The specimen has to be viewed in a vacuum so only non living or​
​divisions​ ​attached to the RER or free in the cytoplasm​
​dead organisms can be observed​
​3.​ ​The protein is made via protein synthesis in the ribosome​
​●​ ​Used to look at organelle detail​
​4.​ ​The protein is transported via a​​vesicle​​to the​​golgi apparatus​
​●​ ​TEM images can appear differently if the cell/organelle has been​ ​Steps for viewing a microscope slide​ ​5.​ ​This is where the protein is modified and packaged, for example it​
​cut along different planes/angles or it's become an artifact so it's​ ​1.​ ​Clip the prepared slide onto the stage​ ​could be combined with a carbohydrate to form a glycoprotein​
​been damaged and doesn't look how it's supposed to.​
​2.​ ​Select the objective lens with the lowest power​ ​6.​ ​The protein is then packaged into a​​vesicle​​again​
​3.​ ​Use the coarse focus to move the stage just below the lens​ ​7.​ ​The vesicle is moved to the​​cell surface membrane​​of the cell​
​Scanning electron microscope​
​4.​ ​Look through the eyepiece and use the coarse focus to move the​ ​where exocytosis will occur​
​●​ ​Used to look at the cell surface detail or the organelle details​
​●​ ​They scan a beam of electrons across the surface of a specimen -​ ​stage until the image is roughly in focus​
​ he mitochondria produces ATP which helps the cytoskeleton contract and​
T
​the reflected electrons are used to form an image​ ​5.​ ​Use the fine focus to make the image clearer​ ​move the vesicle from the golgi body to the cell surface membrane to allow​
​●​ ​They produce 3D images​ ​6.​ ​Is a higher magnification is needed swap the objective lens and​ ​exocytosis to occur.​
​●​ ​Similarly to TEMs, they can only view non living or dead specimens​ ​refocus​
​but SEMs can be used on thicker specimens​

​ )​
d ​e) and f)​ ​k) the difference between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells​
​biological drawings​
​ agnification = the number of times larger the image is in comparison to​
M ​●​ E ​ ukaryotic cells have membrane bound organelles and a distinct​
​Biological drawings should not:​ ​the object​ ​nucleus whereas prokaryotes don’t.​
​●​ ​Include shading or colouring​ ​Resolution = the ability to distinguish between very small structures that​ ​●​ ​Ribosomes in a eukaryotic cell is 80s whereas in prokaryotes its​
​●​ ​Include arrow heads for labels​ ​are close together, in detail​ ​70s​
​●​ ​Include overlapping lies​ ​●​ ​Eukaryotic organisms have linear DNA whereas prokaryotic​
​Biological drawings should:​ ​Magnification = image size/actual size​ ​organisms have circular DNA​
​●​ ​Include a title​ ​●​ ​The cell wall in eukaryotes is made of cellulose and in prokaryotes​
​●​ ​State the magnification / scale​ ​ ight microscope:​
L ​its made of murein/ peptidoglycan​
​●​ ​Be drawn with a sharp pencil​ ​Resolution = 0.2 micrometers Magnification = x 1,500​ ​Difference between animal and plant cells​
​●​ ​Include smooth, continuous lines​ ​TEM​ ​●​ ​Plant cells have a vacuole, cell walls and chloroplasts but animal​
​●​ ​Include labels​ ​Resolution = 0.5 nanometers Magnification = x1,500,000​ ​cells dnt​
​●​ ​Include accurate sizes of observable structures​ ​SEM​
​Resolution = 5 nanometers Magnification = x1,500,000​

Document information

Uploaded on
March 1, 2026
Number of pages
3
Written in
2025/2026
Type
SUMMARY

Subjects

£5.99
Get access to the full document:

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

Get to know the seller
Seller avatar
wajidakaycee

Get to know the seller

Seller avatar
wajidakaycee greenford high
View profile
Follow You need to be logged in order to follow users or courses
Sold
-
Member since
1 week
Number of followers
0
Documents
2
Last sold
-

0.0

0 reviews

5
0
4
0
3
0
2
0
1
0

Trending documents

Recently viewed by you

Why students choose Stuvia

Created by fellow students, verified by reviews

Quality you can trust: written by students who passed their exams and reviewed by others who've used these revision notes.

Didn't get what you expected? Choose another document

No problem! You can straightaway pick a different document that better suits what you're after.

Pay as you like, start learning straight away

No subscription, no commitments. Pay the way you're used to via credit card and download your PDF document instantly.

Student with book image

“Bought, downloaded, and smashed it. It really can be that simple.”

Alisha Student

Frequently asked questions