Term
DEVELOPMENTS IN IMAGING TECHNOLOGY & STAINING TECHNIQUES
STAINING TECHNIQUES |
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Definition
* Using special staining techniques, scientists can highlight certain parts of organisms they are viewing so they are much more visible under a high-power microscope
* A variety of staining techniques can be used with light microscopy, including Gram staining, acid-fast staining, capsule staining, endospore staining, and flagella staining
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Term
DEVELOPMENTS IN IMAGING TECHNOLOGY & STAINING TECHNIQUES
ADJUSTING CONTRAST |
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Definition
* The ability to see differences between structures in an image due to their ability to absorb light
* You can change the contrast of a microscope image by adjusting the amount of light passing through the image being observed to make it more visible |
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Term
DEVELOPMENTS IN IMAGING TECHNOLOGY & STAINING TECHNIQUES
RESOLUTION |
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Definition
* The ability to distinguish between 2 structures very close together
* The ability of a light microscope to maintain a clear image with increasing magnification is the resolution of the microscope. With modern lens technology, the resolution of high-quality microscopes is limited by the wavelength of light |
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Term
DEVELOPMENTS IN IMAGING TECHNOLOGY & STAINING TECHNIQUES
ENHANCING CONTRAST |
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Definition
| * A process that makes the image features stand out more clearly by making optimal use of the colors available on the display or output device. Contrast manipulations involve changing the range of values in an image in order to increase contrast |
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Term
DEVELOPMENTS IN IMAGING TECHNOLOGY & STAINING TECHNIQUES
FLORESCENCE MICROSCOPY |
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Definition
* A technique in which fluorescent substances are attached to desired molecules in a specimen that is then subjected to ultraviolet light
* Uses florescence substances that attach to certain molecules in the tissue. When the specimen is subjected to ultraviolet light, the molecules with the florescent substances grow |
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Term
DEVELOPMENTS IN IMAGING TECHNOLOGY & STAINING TECHNIQUES
CONFOCAL TECHNOLOGY |
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Definition
* A system that uses a light microscope, laser beams, and computers to produce a 3-D image from many images of thin slices of a specimen
*In a light microscope, light that is out of focus comes through the specimen & forms part of the image. This causes a blurred image. With confocal technology, light that is out of focus is blocked, resulting in a sharper image |
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Term
DEVELOPMENTS IN IMAGING TECHNOLOGY & STAINING TECHNIQUES
ELECTRON MICROSCOPE |
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Definition
* An instrument that uses a beam of electrons to produce an image of a specimen
*Because electrons are used to illuminate the specimens, the resolution of electron microscopes is about 2.5 nm
(nano-metres), which is over 100 times better than a light microscope |
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Term
DEVELOPMENTS IN IMAGING TECHNOLOGY & STAINING TECHNIQUES
LIGHT MICROSCOPE |
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Definition
* An instrument that uses a system of lenses for magnification of a specimen illuminated by a beam of white light |
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Term
DEVELOPMENTS IN IMAGING TECHNOLOGY & STAINING TECHNIQUES
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE (SEM)
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Definition
* An electron microscope that uses a beam of electrons to scan the surface of a a specimen that has been fixed and covered with an electron-dense material, like gold
* The SEM produces images of the surface of a specimen |
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Term
DEVELOPMENTS IN IMAGING TECHNOLOGY & STAINING TECHNIQUES
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPE (TEM) |
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Definition
* An electron microscope that passes an electron beam through a very thin section of a fixed & stained specimen
* The TEM produces images of the interior of a specimen |
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