Tag: botany

Phase contrast microscopy is a type of microscopic technique which converts phase shifts in light passing through a transparent specimen to brightness changes in the image. This technique made possible to study living cells without staining.

The fluorescence microscope can localize and quantify specific molecules in the cells. It is the most versatile and powerful technique for localizing proteins within a cell by light microscopy, is fluorescent staining of cells and the observation in the fluorescence microscope.

Robert Hooke discovered cell in the year 1665. He observed cork cell in the bark of Spanish oak tree under a simple microscope and was able to see the empty structures surrounded by walls and named it a cell. He elucidated his observation in a book called "Micrographia".

Fluorescent microscope is a modification of ultraviolet microscope, which was made by Coons in 1945. The instrument uses long wave ultraviolet rays for illumination. It has complementary filters, which allow the viewer to observe directly with the eyes. The microscope is useful in detecting those components which show autofluorescence, e.g., chlorophylls, collagen fibrils, actin filaments, vitamin A, etc. Others can be made fluorescent by coating with fluorochrome dyes like acridine orange and coriphosphine and minerals, eg., proteins, lipids, starch, glycogen, cellulose, etc. The light emitted by them is red, orange, yellow, or green against dark field. It is called as secondary fluorescence. The technique is also useful in diagnosis of viruses, bacteria and protozoans. Immunofluorescent antibody labelling techniques is used in diagnosis of specific molecules like antigens and antibodies. it involves conjugating specific fluorochromes with specific antibodies.

Fluorescent microscope is a modification of ultraviolet microscope which was made by Coons in 1945. The instrument uses long wave ultraviolet rays for illumination. It has complementary filters which allow the viewer to observe directly with the eyes. The microscope is useful in detecting those components which show autofluorescence, e.g., chlorophylls, collagen fibrils, vitamin A, etc. Others can be made fluorescent by coating with fluorochrome dyes like acridine orange and coriphosphine and minerals, eg., proteins, lipids, starch, glycogen, cellulose etc. The light emitted by them is red, orange, yellow, or green against dark field, it is called as secondary fluorescence. The technique is also useful in diagnosis of viruses, bacteria and protozoans. Immunofluorescent antibody labelling techniques is used in diagnosis of specific molecules like antigens and antibodies, it involves conjugating specific fluorochromes with specific antibodies.

Fluorescent microscope is a modification of ultraviolet microscope which was made by Coons in 1945. The instrument uses long wave ultraviolet rays for illumination. It has complementary filters which allow the viewer to observe directly with the eyes. The microscope is useful in detecting those components which show autofluorescence eg. Chlorophylls, collagen fibrils, vitamin A etc.

X-ray crystallography is a technique to study the structural details of crystallizable proteins and nucleic acids. X-ray microscope developed by Kirkpatrick is useful in studying detailed structures of chemicals present in solid state, e.g., haemoglobin, insulin, DNA, RNA etc. due to diffraction of X rays by different atoms of the substance. 

Phase contrast microscope has a phase plate and an annular diaphragm. They bring about changes in light rays passing through the specimen producing differences in light intensity. Denser parts alter path of light more than the thinner parts. This produces varying contrast for different regions. 

Fluorescent microscope is useful in detecting those components which show autofluorescence, e.g., chlorophylls, collagen fibrils, vitamin A. Others can be made fluorescent by coating with fluorochrome dyes like acridine orange and coriphosphine. This is called as secondary fluorescence and is useful in detecting specific biomolecules.