1 Introduction to microscopy

In this first section, you will be introduced to the units and sizes commonly used to measure structures within cells, some of which you may already be familiar with. You will then explore the factors that determine how much detail a microscope can reveal and be introduced to the concept of resolution. By applying this concept, you will understand why an electron microscope can reveal cellular structures in far greater detail than a light microscope.

Figure 1  PhD student using a fluorescence microscope in The Open University’s laboratories.

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Photograph of a student using a fluorescence microscope.

Figure 1  PhD student using a fluorescence microscope in The Open University’s laboratories.