Microbiology Microscopy Techniques

Teaching your kids or supplementing what they learn from school about microbiology and to an extent, microscopy techniques, can be made easier and more fun if you’re working with an actual teaching microscope. A good teaching microscope is one with at least dual view eyepiece holes so that you and your child can view and analyze specimens together.

What is So Fascinating about Microbiology? The study of microorganisms is called microbiology and though it sounds unlikely, it’s a field of science that’s easy for kids to get interested in, with the right activities and essential equipment. Microorganisms are made up of either cell-cluster or single-celled microscopic organisms – these are organisms that are too small for the naked eye to see, or at least see in excellent detail. Viruses, albeit not organisms per se, are also studied in microbiology.

Compared to other biological studies like entomology (study of insects), zoology (study of animals), and botany (study of plants), microbiology hasn’t been as completely studied. At present, roughly one percent of the world’s microbes have been studied. New things are being discovered everyday and as such, there’s always something new for you to teach your kids about microbiology.

Studying Microbiology through Microscopy Microscopy isn’t a science but refers rather to a variety of techniques for making small things and creatures easier to see. Microscopy almost always refers, however, to using a microscope. Today, there are several microscopy techniques used for studying microbiology.

Optical Microscopy – This microscopic technique utilizes transmission or reflection of visible or white light from the sample or specimen being observed and through one or several lenses to magnify the image produced. Depending on the type of microscope you’re using, you may only be able to see it through the microscope’s eyepiece hole or you can also have photographic proof of the image.

An optical microscope is not as expensive as it was before and thus allowing students and hobbyists to have their own for individual pursuits. Optical microscopy is not without flaws: it is best used for viewing either strongly refracting or dark images, has limited image resolution due to diffraction, and lastly, it produces unfocused light that affects image clarity. Live cells and tissues are also difficult to view with this particular microscopy technique. In most cases, they’d have to be stained first before they can be made visible. But staining automatically kills the specimen being observed and at times also introduces artifacts affecting image clarity.

There are several types of optical microscopy techniques used today. Bright field microscopy is the simplest and oldest of all, using transmission of white light to illuminate a given specimen. Dark field microscopy could be considered the opposite of bright field microscopy but only in the sense that it can make invisible specimens – those of which cannot be viewed with bright field illumination – visible. In dark field microscopy, the specimen appears brightly and in contrast to its black background. Dark field microscopy, however, still requires staining at times. Image resolution and light intensity aren’t ideal as well.

Phase contrast illumination is a microscopy technique that’s far improved compared to dark field microscopy. Like the latter, it can render the invisible visible. Its inventor, Frits Zernike, was even awarded the Nobel Prize in 1953 for it. This time, phase contrast illumination utilizes contrast differences in light phases to make invisible microorganisms visible. But alas, phase contrast illumination is not without flaws either. There are two particular artifacts that you’ll commonly notice: halos and shade-offs. There are nevertheless ways of minimizing their effects on the image. Halos, for instance, only become a hindrance if you are studying an exceptionally thick sample or specimen.

Differential interference contrast is quite an excellent but also costly microscopy technique to have in a microscope. While it’s extremely good in portraying small things, like a cell’s nucleus for instance, you should keep in mind that differential interference produces only optical effects; thus, you can’t be sure that what you’re seeing is the actual shape of the sample or specimen! Lastly, in fluorescence microscopy, the fluorescence effect of a specimen is used to create an autofluorescence image.

Choosing a Teaching Microscope A trinocular teaching microscope is extremely good to have when teaching your kids about microscopy. This way, you and your child can view samples together while the third port can be used for a camera. If connected to a computer, it will automatically show the images you’re studying and thus, other kids can see what you’re seeing at the same time.

You should also take the time to teach your kids how to use the microscope. They will love the sense of responsibility you’re giving them for using such a fragile and important piece of equipment. For more information, please visit http://www.teaching-microscope.com/