Microscopy

Scientists use microscopes (micro- = “small”; -scope = “to look at”) micro means small, and scope means to look at, to study structures that are too small to see with the naked eye, like most cells. A microscope is an instrument that magnifies an object.

There are several different microscopy techniques:

• Light microscopy is the most common method.

• Fluorescent microscopy can be used to study specific cell structures at high contrast.

• Electron microscopy can produce images at a very high resolution.