This book contains all the necessary information and advice for anyone wishing to obtain electron micrographs showing the most accurate ultrastructural detail in thin sections of any type of biological specimen. The guidelines for the choice of preparative methods are based on an extensive survey of current laboratory practice. For the first time, in a textbook of this kind, the molecular events occurring during fixation and embedding are analysed in detail. The reasons for choosing particular specimen preparation methods are explained and guidance is given on how to modify established techniques to suit individual requirements. All the practical methods advocated are clearly described, with accompanying tables and the results obtainable are illustrated with many electron micrographs. Portland Press Series: Practical Methods in Electron Microscopy, Volume 17, Audrey M. Glauert, Editor Originally published in 1999. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Successful transmission electron microscopy in all of its manifestations depends on the quality of the specimens examined. Biological specimen preparation protocols have usually been more rigorous and time consuming than those in the physical sciences. For this reason, there has been a wealth of scienti?c literature detailing speci?c preparation steps and numerous excellent books on the preparation of b- logical thin specimens. This does not mean to imply that physical science specimen preparation is trivial. For the most part, most physical science thin specimen pre- ration protocols can be executed in a matter of a few hours using straightforward steps. Over the years, there has been a steady stream of papers written on various aspects of preparing thin specimens from bulk materials. However, aside from s- eral seminal textbooks and a series of book compilations produced by the Material Research Society in the 1990s, no recent comprehensive books on thin spe- men preparation have appeared until this present work, ?rst in French and now in English. Everyone knows that the data needed to solve a problem quickly are more imp- tant than ever. A modern TEM laboratory with supporting SEMs, light microscopes, analytical spectrometers, computers, and specimen preparation equipment is an investment of several million US dollars. Fifty years ago, electropolishing, chemical polishing, and replication methods were the principal specimen preparation me- ods.

In this practical text, the author covers the fundamentals of biological electron microscopy - including fixation, instrumentation, and darkroom work - to provide an excellent introduction to the subject for the advanced undergraduate or graduate student.

Successful transmission electron microscopy in all of its manifestations depends on the quality of the specimens examined. Biological specimen preparation protocols have usually been more rigorous and time consuming than those in the physical sciences. For this reason, there has been a wealth of scienti c literature detailing speci c preparation steps and numerous excellent books on the preparation of b- logical thin specimens. This does not mean to imply that physical science specimen preparation is trivial. For the most part, most physical science thin specimen pre- ration protocols can be executed in a matter of a few hours using straightforward steps. Over the years, there has been a steady stream of papers written on various aspects of preparing thin specimens from bulk materials. However, aside from s- eral seminal textbooks and a series of book compilations produced by the Material Research Society in the 1990s, no recent comprehensive books on thin specimen preparation have appeared until this present work, rst in French and now in English. Everyone knows that the data needed to solve a problem quickly are more imp- tant than ever. A modern TEM laboratory with supporting SEMs, light microscopes, analytical spectrometers, computers, and specimen preparation equipment is an investment of several million US dollars. Fifty years ago, electropolishing, chemical polishing, and replication methods were the principal specimen preparation me- ods.

Scanning electr on microscopy (SEM) and x-ray microanalysis can produce magnified images and in situ chemical information from virtually any type of specimen. The two instruments generally operate in a high vacuum and a very dry environment in order to produce the high energy beam of electrons needed for imaging and analysis. With a few notable exceptions, most specimens destined for study in the SEM are poor conductors and composed of beam sensitive light elements containing variable amounts of water. In the SEM, the imaging system depends on the specimen being sufficiently electrically conductive to ensure that the bulk of the incoming electrons go to ground. The formation of the image depends on collecting the different signals that are scattered as a consequence of the high energy beam interacting with the sample. Backscattered electrons and secondary electrons are generated within the primary beam-sample interactive volume and are the two principal signals used to form images. The backscattered electron coefficient ( ? ) increases with increasing atomic number of the specimen, whereas the secondary electron coefficient ( ? ) is relatively insensitive to atomic number. This fundamental diff- ence in the two signals can have an important effect on the way samples may need to be prepared. The analytical system depends on collecting the x-ray photons that are generated within the sample as a consequence of interaction with the same high energy beam of primary electrons used to produce images.

New edition of an introductory reference that covers all of the important aspects of electron microscopy from a biological perspective, including theory of scanning and transmission; specimen preparation; darkroom, digital imaging, and image analysis; laboratory safety; interpretation of images; and an atlas of ultrastructure. Generously illustrated with bandw line drawings and photographs. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Major improvements in instrumentation and specimen preparation have brought SEM to the fore as a biological imaging technique. Although this imaging technique has undergone tremendous developments, it is still poorly represented in the literature, limited to journal articles and chapters in books. This comprehensive volume is dedicated to the theory and practical applications of FESEM in biological samples. It provides a comprehensive explanation of instrumentation, applications, and protocols, and is intended to teach the reader how to operate such microscopes to obtain the best quality images.