Microscope and microorganisms

In short: A microscope magnifies things that are too small for the naked eye. Microorganisms such as bacteria, yeasts, protozoa and algae are visible only with it.

In more detail: Antoni van Leeuwenhoek was the first to observe bacteria and protozoa in the 17th century.

In detail

• Light microscope: Magnifies up to about 1000 to 1500 times; eyepiece and objective give the total magnification.
• Electron microscope: Shows much smaller structures such as viruses.
• Specimen: Thin sections or a drop of water on the slide, with a cover slip.
• Staining: Makes cell structures easier to see.
• Creatures in pond water: Paramecia, amoebae, algae.
• Onion skin: Cells and nuclei easy to see (zelle-aufbau-und-funktion).
• Microorganisms in everyday life: Yeast in bread, lactic acid bacteria in yoghurt (hefeteig-grundlagen).
• Use: Start with the lowest magnification, focus with the knob (linsen-und-spiegel-optik).