Introduction to Microscopy and it’s Historical Development

• Who invented the first optical microscope and in what year?

  Zacharias Janssen and Hans Janssen in 1950
• What were the first simple microscopes primarily used for?


  To observe tiny insects like fleas
• What was the magnification range of the first simple microscopes?


  1. 10x
• What term was used to describe the first simple microscopes?

  Flea glasses
• What type of microscope did Robert Hooke use to observe cork?


  Compound microscope
• What did Robert Hooke discover about cork in 1665?


  Cork is made of small, hollow compartments
• What significant theory did Hooke's discovery contribute to?


  The cell theory
• Why did Hooke name the compartments he observed "cells"?


  He was reminded of small rooms in a monastery
• Who is known as the father of microbiology?


  Anton van Leeuwenhoek
• What did Anton van Leeuwenhoek study to improve his observations?


  New approaches for creating lenses
• What term did van Leeuwenhoek use to refer to single-celled organisms?


  Animalcules
• What are the three main types of microscopes and their characteristics?

  1. Simple microscope: single magnifying lens for enlarged images.
  2. Compound microscope: uses two sets of lenses for high-resolution 2D images.
  3. Electron microscope: provides high-resolution images at high magnification levels.
• What is the primary purpose of a microscope?


  To observe small objects
• When is an electron microscope typically used?


  When compound light microscopes can't provide an effective image