Month: September 2016

Specialized cells

Cells may be specialized for a particular function. Their structure will allow them to carry this function out. For example a root hair cell, leaf cell, sperm cell and red blood cells are all specialized cells. This means they are specialized for a specific meaning which is why their structure is how it is. Specialized stem cells also exist in plants. They can become specialized into the cells of roots, leaves or flowers. Unlike animal cells, some plant cells can remain specialized and develop into any type of plant cell. For example 

This cell absorbs light energy for photosynthesis. Some adaptations of this cell is that it is packed with chloroplasts, regular shaped with closely packed cells form a continuous layer for efficient absorption of sunlight.

Root Hair Cell

 Plants absorb water from the soil by osmosis. Root hair cells are adapted for this by having a large surface area to speed up osmosis.The absorbed water is transported through the roots to the rest of the plant where it is used for different purposes:

Difference between magnification and resolution.

Magnification is the ability to make small objects seem larger, such as making a microscopic organism visible. Resolution is the ability to distinguish two objects from each other. Light microscopy has limits to both its resolution and its magnification.

Electron vs. Light Microscopes: Basic Differences

There are not many things that these two microscope types have in common. Both electron and light microscopes are technical devices which are used for visualizing structures that are too small to see with the unaided eye, and both types have relevant areas of applications in biology and the materials sciences. And this is pretty much it. The method of visualizing the structures is very different. Electron Microscopes use electrons and not photons (light rays) for visualization. The first electron microscope was constructed in 1931, compared to optical microscopes they are a very recent invention.