Viruses and Microscopy Techniques
Viruses aren't actually alive - they're basically genetic pirates that hijack your cells to reproduce. These acellular particles consist of nucleic acid wrapped in a protein coat called a capsid. They can't divide on their own, so they inject their DNA or RNA into host cells and force them to make viral copies.
Different viruses attack different cells because they need specific receptor proteins to attach. This is why some viruses only target particular cell types whilst others can infect multiple tissues.
To study these tiny structures, scientists use powerful electron microscopes. TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy) shoots electrons through ultra-thin specimens for detailed internal views, whilst SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) bounces electrons off surfaces to create 3D images.
Cell fractionation lets researchers separate organelles by density using ultracentrifugation. After breaking cells open in a blender, they spin the mixture at increasing speeds - heavy nuclei settle first, then chloroplasts, mitochondria, and finally lightweight ribosomes.
Remember: Electron microscopes can only examine dead specimens in a vacuum, but they reveal details impossible to see with light microscopes.