1.4 Biologists’ Tools and Technology

KEY CONCEPTTechnology continually changes the way biologists work.

1.4 Biologists’ Tools and Technology

Learning Objectives:

•To explain how imaging technologies are used in biology and the study of life

•To correctly label a microscope and explain the functions of its parts

1.4 Biologists’ Tools and Technology

Imaging technologies provide new views of life.

• A microscope provides an enlarged image of an object.

stoma

– light microscopes (LM)

1.4 Biologists’ Tools and Technology

stoma

– scanning electron microscopes (SEM)

Imaging technologies provide new views of life.

• A microscope provides an enlarged image of an object.

– light microscopes (LM)

1.4 Biologists’ Tools and Technology

– transmission electron microscopes (TEM)

stoma

– scanning electron microscopes (SEM)

Imaging technologies provide new views of life.

• A microscope provides an enlarged image of an object.

– light microscopes (LM)

1.4 Biologists’ Tools and Technology

• Imaging technology is used in medicine.

– X-ray images

1.4 Biologists’ Tools and Technology

– magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

• Imaging technology is used in medicine.

– X-ray images

1.4 Biologists’ Tools and Technology

– functional MRI (fMRI)

– magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

• Imaging technology is used in medicine.

– X-ray images

1.4 Biologists’ Tools and Technology

Imaging technologies provide new views of life.

1.4 Biologists’ Tools and Technology

A model:-simulates interactions among many different variables-provides scientists with a general idea of how a biological system works

Complex systems are modeled on computers.

1.4 Biologists’ Tools and Technology

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

1.4 Biologists’ Tools and Technology

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

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

1.4 Biologists’ Tools and Technology

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

– molecular genetics– genomics

1.4 Biologists’ Tools and Technology

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

In genomics, computer

databases store

information and allow

scientists to search for

and retrieve the

information