1.4 Biologists’ Tools and Technology KEY CONCEPT Technology continually changes the way biologists...

1.4 Biologists’ Tools and Technology

KEY CONCEPTTechnology continually changes the way biologists work.


• SC.912.L.14.4 Compare and contrast structure and function of various types of microscopes. (MODERATE)


Light Microscope


Imaging technologies provide new views of life.

• A microscope provides an enlarged image of an object.

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• Light microscopes (LM) • Light and lenses used to magnify specimens• limited magnification• can be used to study living specimens • shows a two-dimensional image of a specimen. • Shows actual color of the specimen.


Scanning Electron Microscopes


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Scanning electron microscopes (SEM)–Deflection of electrons used to magnify specimens; provides high magnification and a–three-dimensional black-and-white image that can be colored by computer–cannot be used to study living specimen


SEM magnification 1500X


Transmission Electron Microscope


Transmission electron microscopes (TEM)–Electrons passing through a specimen used to magnify specimen; –provides high magnification –two-dimensional black-and-white image that can be colored by computer –cannot be used to

study living specimensstoma



• Animated biology – look at the three types of microscopes.

Quick Lab- Life under a microscope.


• Imaging technology is used in medicine.

– X-ray images– X-rays passing through

tissues used to show

dense materials (bones,

teeth)


– magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

– Magnetic field used to show all tissues, including soft tissues such as tendons and

ligaments



Functional MRI (fMRI)–Magnetic field that can be used to shown activity in particular brain regions while a subject is performing a task



Complex systems are modeled on computers.

• Computer models are used to study systems that cannot be studied directly.– heart attacks

– effect of medicines on the human body

– movement of water molecules into and out of a cell

– spread of a disease through a population

• Computer models are used when experiments are not safe, ethical, or practical.

Normal heartbeat

Heart attack


The tools of molecular genetics give rise to new biological studies.

• A gene is a segment of DNA that stores genetic information.


• Through our understanding of DNA, we can study genetics on a molecular level.

– molecular genetics

Study & manipulation of DNA at the molecular level

– genomics

1.4 Biologists’ Tools and Technology KEY CONCEPT Technology continually changes the way biologists...

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