About Microscopes That Are Used in Microbiology

Different types of microscopes are used in microbiology to provide information on the number and structure of microbes. Without microscopes, our knowledge in the field of microbiology would be extremely limited.

What is Microbiology?

• Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, which are living things that are too small to be seen with the naked eye. Bacteria, protozoa and fungi are examples of microorganisms.

Significance of Microscopes in Microbiology

• Since microbes are too small to be seen unaided, microscopes are used to help doctors and scientists visualize and study microorganisms. The type of microscope that is used depends on the amount of magnification required.

Stereo Microscopes

• Stereo microscopes are used for studying samples under low magnification. In microbiology, stereo microscopes are commonly used to count the number of colonies on an agar plate.

Compound Microscopes

• Compound microscopes are used to study details at the cellular level. For example, microbiologists use compound microscopes to analyze individual microbes.

Electron Micoscopes

• Electron microscopes use electrons to produce highly magnified images of extremely small objects such as the outer covering of a cell. Microbiologists can use electron microscopes to study viruses and the structural details of other microbes.