Name: Precy B.

Ramada Date: 09/13/2022

Course: BS Biology BIO 2102: Microbiology

The Different Microscopes

Type of microscope Description Typical uses Sample image
Light microscopes Use visible light; shorter, blue wavelengths provide better resolution
Bright field Simple to use; To observe killed
relatively stained specimens
inexpensive; stained and naturally
specimens often colored live ones;
required also used to count
microorganisms
Dark field Uses a special filter To observe living,
in the condenser that colorless,
prevents light from unstained
directly passing organisms
through a specimen;
only light scattered
by the specimen is
visible
Phase contrast Uses a special To observe
condenser that splits internal structures
a polarized light of living microbes
beam into two
beams; contrast in
the image results
from the interactions
of the two beams
Differential Uses two separate To observe
interference beams instead of a internal structures
contrast (Nomarski) split beam; false of living microbes
color and a three-
dimensional effect
result from
interactions of light
beams and lenses; no
staining required
Fluorescence An ultraviolet light To localize
source causes specific chemicals
fluorescent natural or structures; used
chemicals or dyes to as an accurate and
emit visible light quick diagnostic
tool for detection
of pathogens
 Electron Use electrons traveling as waves with short wavelengths: require
Microscopes specimens to be in a vacuum, cannot be used to examine living cells
Transmission Produces two- To observe
dimensional image internal
of ultrastructure of ultrastructural
cells detail of cells and
observation of
viruses and small
bacteria
Scanning Produces three- To observe the
dimensional view of surface details of
the surface of structures
microbes and cellular
structures

Probe Microscopes Uses microscopic probes that move over the surface of a specimen;
resolving power greater than electron microscopes

Scanning tunneling Measures the flow of To observe the

electrical current surface of objects;
between the tip of a provide extremely
probe and the fine detail, high
specimen to produce magnification, and
an image of the great resolution
surface at atomic
level
Atomic force Measures the To observe living
deflection of a laser specimens at the
beam aimed at the tip molecular and
of a probe that atomic levels
travels across the
surface of the
specimen

Sample image sources:

https://www.olympus-lifescience.com/en/microscope-resource/primer/anatomy/brightfieldgallery/

https://www.microscopeclub.com/dark-field-microscopy/

https://www.leica-microsystems.com/science-lab/phase-contrast/

https://www.microscopyu.com/galleries/dic-phase-contrast

https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/41334

https://www.ualberta.ca/biological-sciences/services/mf/galleries/index.html

http://nano.vub.ac.be/portfolio/scanning-probe-microscopy/

https://rsscience.com/bacteria/