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Cell Structure

Electron microscopes allow scientists to view subcellular structures in much greater detail than light microscopes due to their higher magnification and resolution. Electron microscopes can magnify objects up to 2,000,000 times compared to light microscopes which are limited to 2000x magnification. They also have resolving powers of 10nm or 0.2nm, allowing visualization of structures like chromosomes. This discovery has increased biological knowledge as scientists can now observe cell components like organelles in higher detail, leading to a better understanding of cell structure and function.

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10 views

Cell Structure

Electron microscopes allow scientists to view subcellular structures in much greater detail than light microscopes due to their higher magnification and resolution. Electron microscopes can magnify objects up to 2,000,000 times compared to light microscopes which are limited to 2000x magnification. They also have resolving powers of 10nm or 0.2nm, allowing visualization of structures like chromosomes. This discovery has increased biological knowledge as scientists can now observe cell components like organelles in higher detail, leading to a better understanding of cell structure and function.

Uploaded by

priyamaher2007
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Cell structure

Microscopy

Magnification =
how much you have enlarged the image you are
looking at
= eyepiece lens (always 10) x
objective lens (e.g. 10, 40, 100)

Resolution = ability to distinguish between 2


separate points
 Determines how much detail the microscope can show you

e.g. the resolving power of a light microscope is 200nm.


The resolving power of a TEM is 0.2nm.
So the highest resolving power is TEM.
Light microscope Electron microscope
 x 2000 magnification  x 2,000,000 magnification
 small and cheap  high resolution
 can be used to view live specimens  can give 3D images
 disadvantage: limited magnification  disadvantage: large and expensive, can only be used in
and resolution temperature, pressure and humidity controlled rooms
 have resolving power of 10nm (SEM) and 0.2nm (TEM)
 can be used to view tiny, subcellar structures (e.g.
chromosomes during cell division)

Since electron microscopes have been discovered, explain how biological knowledge has increased as a
result of this discovery:
o Electron microscopes have a higher magnification and higher resolution so scientists have been
able to view tiny subcellular structures in more detail, resulting in greater understanding
Method – how to prepare an onion slide

1) Cut the onion into small pieces and peel a thin layer of cells from the inside of the onion.
2) Carefully place the cells on a slide.
3) Add 2 drops of iodine solution to the onion skin (to stain the cells). Wait 3 mins so the cells will be
easier to observe.
4) Using a mounted needle, lower the cover slip onto the slide and make sure that there are no air
bubbles.
5) Turn the microscope light on and select the lowest magnification lens.
6) Place the slide on the stage of the microscope.
7) Move the stage up by using the coarse focusing wheel until the end of the objective lens is slightly
above the cover slip.
8) Look through the eyepiece lens and move it down slowly using the fine focusing wheel until an
image is in focus.
9) To observe the image with a higher magnification, change the objective lens for a 10x magnification
lens.

Animal and plant cells


FUNCTION:

Cell membrane = controls what enters and exits the cell


Nucleus = controls cell function
Cytoplasm = where chemical reactions occur
Mitochondria = where aerobic respiration occurs (releasing energy for cell activities)
Ribosomes = protein synthesis

Cell wall = provides cell structure and prevents cells from bursting
Vacuole = sap and cell chemical store
Chloroplast = where photosynthesis occurs

Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells

Eukaryotic cells are animal and plant cells


Prokaryotes are bacterial cells

Difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells:


or plasmid
 Prokaryotic cells are smaller than eukaryotic cells
 Prokaryotic cells have no nucleus
 Prokaryotic cells have plasmids

Specialised cells in animals

Muscle cell
Function = contraction for movement
- filaments of protein slide over each other to cause muscle contractions
- contains many mitochondria to provide energy from respiration for
contraction
- glycogen storage – for cellular respiration

Sperm cell
Function = reproduction
- long tail – to move sperm towards egg
- acrosome - stores digestive enzymes to break down outer
layers of egg cell
- lots of mitochondria to release energy for respiration to
supply energy to allow cell to move
- nucleus – contains DNA to be passed on

Nerve cell
function = carry electrical impulses from one part of the body to another
- long axon so impulses can be carried over large distances
- lots of dendrites - allow connections to form with other
nerve cells
- synapses – to pass impulse to another cell or between
nerve cell muscle using transmitter chemicals

Specialised cells in plants:


Root hair cell
Function = absorption of water and mineral ions from soil
- increased surface area – to promote water uptake
- large permanent vacuole – to speed up movement of water by
osmosis
- many mitochondria – produce energy for active transport of
minerals

Xylem cell
Function = transport tissue for water and dissolved ions
- cells die forming long hollow tubes – to allow water and mineral
ions to move easily through them
- strengthened by lignin – to help cells withstand pressure of water
moving up the plant and to support plant stem

Phloem plant
Function = transport of dissolved sugars and amino acids
- Cell walls break down to form sieve plates – to enable water and dissolved food to pass
through
- Companion cells – to support phloem cells and provide energy to move substances up and
down in phloem

Palisade cell
- Lots of chloroplasts – contain chlorophyll to trap light needed for photosynthesis
- Positioned in leaves and outer layers of stem – to absorb as much light as possible
- Large permeant vacuole – to keep cell rigid and support leaf and to capture light

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