APPLICATION OF TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPE (TEM) IN PALYNOLOGICAL STUDY

Nowadays, as a conventional instrument, TEM has been widely used in investigation of ultra-microstructures of biological organs and tissues. Roughly started from the early sixties of the last century, TEM was applied to palaeontological studies, especially in palynology involving spores (megaspores in particular), pollen and acritarchs, etc. Through ultra-thin sectioning after preparation processes, the preserved microstructures of organic wall and its interior can be clearly observed. This is of significance in approaching the systematic classification and ontogenesis of relevant microfossils. In practice, from some Palaeozoic even Precambrian well preserved microfossils, valuable information has been obtained from ultra-microstructure study. However, such successive results need essential prerequisites, viz., some technical problems met in the preparation and ultra-thin sectioning of fossil samples should be correctly solved. The present paper introduces some experiential but effective methods in solving such problems, including the concentration of fossil specimens, the permeation of embedding resin into the specimens and several common problems in the sectioning process. Some actual examples of TEM's application in palynology are also provided.

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Clc Number:

Q944.571 TB383