Different types of microscope and their uses

If you are an aspiring microbiologist or you want to pursue a career in science, it is very important to understand the types of microscopes and their uses. The microscope is an important part of a biology lab that helps one observe specimen that are impossible for the naked human eye to see. Microscopes help magnify objects and study a biological specimen in detail. There are many different types of microscopes and their uses vary according to the type.

The most commonly used microscope and the integral part of a school or college lab is the compound microscope, uses two optical parts, called the ocular lens and the objective lens. The compound microscope can provide about 2000X magnification. Thus, compound microscopes are the types of microscopes used in biology to observe bacterial, algal, protozoa as well as animal and plant cells.

The light microscope otherwise called the optical microscope. This is also a type of compound microscope that is used to view microorganisms. The light microscope has different lens that helps to magnify images of the microorganism or specimens loaded on the stage. The eyepieces have a magnification power of 10x or 16x. The light microscopes are the types of microscopes used in anatomy and physiology to observe small animals, plants, metal samples, and microorganisms like bacteria in detail.

Dissecting microscope has low magnification power. These are also types of light microscopes that help in observing specimens that are a bit larger in size. It contains two optical paths that are at different angles and help the user see the specimen in three dimensions. The advantage of dissecting microscope is that it can be used on living samples but it has a low magnification power.
Dark-field microscope is used to observe live spirochetes. This microscope uses a special condenser lens that helps scattering light. This causes it to reflect the light off the specimen at an angle. The result is such that any light object is seen on a dark background.

The phase contrast microscope uses special condensers that help in throwing the light out of phase. This helps the light pass through the object at different speeds. The phase contrast microscope is one of the types of microscopes used in biology to view unstained specimens. It is one of the types of microscopes used to study cells and cell parts like mitochondria, lysosomes, Golgi bodies using a phase contrast microscope.

The electron microscope is one of the most advanced microscopes used today. This microscope is powered by a beam of electrons with very short wavelengths. These electrons strikes objects that come in its path and helps increase the resolution of the microscope. The electron microscope is one of the types of microscopes used to study cells like tiny viral cells as well as larger molecules.

The transmission electron microscope (TEM) is also one of the types of microscopes used to study cells. Ultrathin slices of microorganisms like viruses are placed on a wire grid. Then these cells are stained with gold or palladium and then used to observe under a transmission electron microscope. The electron beam is deflected on the densely coated parts of the cells and the image is observed on dark and light background.

Searching for home school microscopes to enable your child secure a better educational future? Follow the links to contact for electron microscope.