From The Other End of The Lens

According to Gunter Blobel, a biologist and Noble Prize winner, states ‘With a basic electron microscope one is revealed the complex universe of the cell, the basic unit of life.’ Microscopes were designed to magnify structures and small objects by which could not be done by the naked eye. Over time scientists have made infamous discoveries using different types of microscopes that have proven to humankind useful and lifesaving.

When Dr. Ernst Ruska invented the electron microscope he did it based on a key principle of Busch’s theory. This theory was based on the effects of the magnetic fields of a coil wire. The heat of the coil created an electric current which enable the electrons to pass and then used as an electron lens. Dr Ernst built on this principle theory and used a beam instead of a coil. The beam was a much greater intensity of heat and made the electrons move at greater speed to transfer the image to a computer.

The electron microscope visualizes objects by using a thin beam, which is created by langston filament and is heated up to 2700 celsius. This is what makes this microscope unique because it uses a beam instead of light. Due to the high heat the electrons move around at the speed of light and our shot through an electron gun into a vacuum chamber. Once in the chamber, the beam has to pass through three electromagnetic lenses. Theses lenses help the electrons stay on the right path. Once the electrons have finished going through the electromagnetic lenses they will reach the specimen. The electrons will then bounce millions per second onto the specimen thus creating a subatomic picture of a specimen on the computer.

The economical implications of the electron microscope overall are negative. This is due to the very high financial costs with materials and a specific space and location of the microscope. But most importantly a certain skill set for preparation of the microscope. Not a lot of people are able to build or maintain this microscope due to the cost and the amount of time taken to build the structure. Because this microscope contains many requirements it can be used by everyone and thus people miss out on the benefits and advancements of science.

My first supporting example is according to www.microscopemaster.com electron microscopes are very expensive, take up alot of space. Also the location has to be free of vibration and electromagnetic interference. Then my second supporting example is from john Innes Centre says you have to have a certain skill set with specific training. One reason is because samples have to be specially prepared and this can take a long time and is very difficult todo.

The ethical implication of the electron microscope is that during the process of taking picture of the specimen and then transmitting it to the computer creates layers of the electrons and cells. Sometimes there could be an error or glitch in the system and could deny scientist and researchers the correct information.

One of the supporting examples is that people may not be gather the true pictures but they may be missing an important part that has not been recorded to. This is from the National Academy of sciences engineering medicine.