The Determination of Axis Lengths of Dunaliella from the Image Analysis of TEM Sections through Randomly Orientated Cells

We present a method which improves the determination of geometric parameters of unicellular organisms with prolate ellipsoid geometry, such as Dunaliella. Approximately determined axis lenghts were obtained from transmission electron micrographs of ultrathin sections of microalgae. The density functions generated by these ‘axis lengths’ have poles which can be used to determine the short half axis length and ratio of axis lengths of the ellipsoid in order to determine the true cell volume.