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How Did the Electron Microscope Aid Scientists in the Study of Cells?

Electron microscopes are used to probe deeper into the microscopic world than light reflecting microscopes can. Electron microscopes pass a beam of electrons through a specimen onto a photographic plate or phosphorescent screen. The process is like an x-ray, except that electron microscopes can focus and narrow the beam to a size smaller than an atom. Burning an image onto a photographic plate allows scientists to see images far smaller than can be seen with reflected light.

  1. Magnification

    • Light reflecting microscopes enabled viewing of cells, but it was limited. As magnification got higher, the focus was reduced. The electron microscope does not use reflected light. Instead an electron beam shoots through the specimen and onto a screen or photographic plate. The result is a viewing ability of approximately 10,000 times greater in magnitude than a light microscope. Scientists could now easily see far deeper into cells to gain a better understanding.

    Depth of Field

    • Along with higher magnification, electron microscopes gave depth of field. Being able to see what is in front and back of the cell enabled scientists to better understand the relationships between cells. Switching from a two-dimensional image to three-dimensional allowed scientist to more accurately measure the size and structure of each cell. This added to a larger and sharper image than a light reflecting microscope provides.

    Structures Within Cells

    • By using different stains scientists can now see different parts of cells. Specific stains react with lipids, proteins and the nucleic acids giving scientists high contrast pictures within cells. Antibodies can be stained with electron dense heavy metals to determine sub-cellular proteins and the locations within each cell. Seeing how the cells work has given science vital clues into how life works. This has brought new treatments and methods when working with diseases.

    What was learned

    • As scientists delved deeper into the cell with the electron microscope science learned one important thing. On a cellular level the distinction between plant and animal was not so clear. Scientists found multi-cellular organisms as well as unicellular or single-celled organisms. Some unicellular organisms are mobile food gatherers as well as photosynthetic like plants. How these organisms work together is what makes different species unique. The electron microscope gave scientists the ability to see and understand the workings of cellular structures in the world.

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