Tools of the Biologist
Chapter 1 Section 1-4
Biology Tools
• Scientists use many tools in the
laboratory and in the field.
–Some are used for measuring
–Some are used for observation
• Can anyone name me some tools that
we used in the 2 previous labs?
Several common tools used in a
Biology Laboratory
Microscope:
• One of the most important tools of the
biologist is the microscope.
• A microscope is an instrument that
makes things appear larger than they
really are.
• There are several kinds of microscopes:
–Simple Microscope
–Compound Light Microscope
–Electron Microscope
Simple Microscope
•
•
•
•
This type of microscope only has one lens.
Can anyone think of a simple microscope?
Answer: Magnifying glass.
Most simple microscopes only magnify
objects 10X
• Simple microscopes are usually used to
study objects like leaves of plants or the
body of an insect.
Compound Light Microscope
• A compound light Microscope uses lenses
to make an object appear larger.
Compound Light Microscope cont.
• Compound Light
Microscope has 2 or
more lenses.
• First lens is the
ocular lens located in
the eye piece.
• The second lenses
are called the
objective lenses. (5X,
20X, 50X, 100X)
Electron Microscope
• Some microscopes use electrons to
form images of really small objects.
• They can magnify objects up to
300,000X.
• 2 kinds of Electron Microscopes:
–Transmission Electron Microscope
(TEM)
–Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)
Transmission Electron Microscope
(TEM)
• This microscope
passes electrons
through the object
being studied.
• TEM can magnify
an object
1,000,000X.
• It can not be used
on living tissue.
Transmission Electron Microscope
(TEM) cont.
Scanning Electron Microscope
(SEM)
• This type of
microscope reflects
electrons from the
surface of the object
being studied.
• Then it produces a
three dimensional
image of the object
being studied.
Scanning Electron Microscope
(SEM) cont.
Computers
• A computer is a machine that stores large
amounts of information.
• Uses for computer in science:
– Stores data
– Make calculations
– Run simulations
– Take measurements
– Keep track of research
– Word processing
– Make charts, graphs, tables