BIOSC 0150 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Cell Theory, Fluorescence, Scanning Electron Microscope
Document Summary
Cell theory: cells are the fundamental units of life, all organisms are composed of cells, all cells come from pre-existing cells. Prokaryotic vs eukaryotic cells: prokaryotic cells do not have a nucleus or organelles. Organelles: membrane-bound structures within cells: compartmentalize the cell, allowing for varying conditions for different cellular processes incompatible reactions are separated reaction efficiency increases, regulate traffic within the cell. Cells vary in shape, structure, and function. Light microscopy: general size, shape of cells, and large organelles are visible; limit of resolution is 200 nm; cells are stained to increase contrast. Epifluorescence: cheap, regular light microscope with special filters to fluoresce light, low resolution but general picture visible. Confocal: special lenses filter out other light, providing greater contrast, Can be used to visualize organelles or protein fibers. X-ray crystallography: used for solving 3d structure of proteins and nucleic acids. Differential centrifugation: used to separate cell components.