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Index >> Microscopy Methods in Microbiology >> Microscopy and Micrometry Introduction

Microscopy and Micrometry Introduction

Microscopy and Micrometry
TECHNICAL ADVANCES in the sophistication of materials and equipments used to examine microbes have been a key element in the development of microbiology. The example of this is the evolution of microscope. Ever since the discovery of micro­scopic world by Leeuwenhoek, the methods for observation of microbes have greatly improved. Though, the existence of submicroscopic obligate parasites was known, they were not actually seen until, electron microscope came into use.

 It is impossible in the scope of a single chapter, either to describe microscope historically or to discuss the scientific theories lying behind its design. Therefore, only basic knowledge for the intelligent and accomplished use of the instrument as a tool of microbiological investigation will be restricted in the scope of a present chapter. For further details readers may refer to Coslett (1), Francon (2), Martin (3), Ruthman (4) and Quesnel (5).

A wide variety of microscopes are currently available. They can be categorized, depending upon the principle in­volved for the magnification into two groups namely (i) light microscope and (ii) electron microscope. The former group, where magnification is achieved with the help of optical lens system, includes bright-field, dark-field, fluorescence and phase-contrast microscopes. On the other hand in latter category, where a beam of electron is used in place of light to obtain magnification, includes transmission and scanning electron microscopes.

It should be noted that each type of microscope possesses a definite limit of visibility. For instance, light microscope gives useful magnification of 1000 diameter, hence it has lower Visible limit of about 0.2 mm, while electron microscope has lower visible limit of about 0.4 nm. The operational range of different microscopes

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