A Bit of History of the Microscope Clipart from Microsoft Office Online Certain materials are included under the fair use exemption of the U.S. Copyright Law and have been prepared according to the multimedia fair use guidelines and are restricted from further use.

The microscope got it’s name because it allows us to view minute things. Micro means very small. Scope (suffix) means viewing or observing. .

History of the microscope Spectacles were known in Italy in 1200

The early simple “microscopes” which were really only magnifying glasses had one power, usually about 6X - 10X . One thing that was very common and interesting to look at was fleas and other tiny insects. These early magnifiers were hence called “flea glasses”.

Around 1590, two Dutch spectacle makers, Zaccharias Janssen and his father Hans started experimenting with these lenses. They put several lenses in a tube and discovered objects were greatly enlarge. This was the first compound microscope.

Anthony Leeuwenhoek of Holland (early 1700’s) became very interested in lenses while working with magnifying glasses in a dry goods store. He used to count the threads in cloth. He taught himself new methods for grinding and polishing tiny lenses which gave him greater magnifications. has since been called the "Father of Microscopy"

Robert Hooke’s Microscope http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Hooke_Microscope-03000276-FIG-4.jpg Hooke’s microscope Hooke wanted to know what something living looked like when it was strongly magnified. Since he knew that he would need to cut a really thin layer to view through his microscope, he chose to view a piece of easily-sliced cork tree…

This is a photograph of a cork tree (from which we cut cork). Cork oak (Quercus suber) with sections of cork removed Eric G. Carle—Shostal/EB Inc. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Cork_Trees_Ubrique.jpg

When Hooke viewed the thin layer of cork through his micro-scope, http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/17/Cork_Micrographia_Hooke.png When Hooke viewed the thin layer of cork through his micro-scope, this is what he saw:

The small structures that “make up” cork reminded Hooke of the prison cells of his century… What Hooke saw through his scope… Modern Prison Cells http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Prison_cell.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/17/Cork_Micrographia_Hooke.png http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Oxford_Castle.JPG

…so he named the small structures “cells.” Cork Cells (Cells from a Cork Tree) Modern Prison Cells http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Prison_cell.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/17/Cork_Micrographia_Hooke.png http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Oxford_Castle.JPG

Proposed cell theory: Schleiden and Schwann 1. All living things are composed of cells 2. Cells are the basic unit of structure and function in living things 3. All cells are produced by other cells http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/Matthias_Jacob_Schleiden.jpg

Microscopes are compound, meaning they have two or more lenses used to magnify objects. These lenses bend the light.

1931- An electron microscope depends on electrons rather than light to view an object. Electron microscopes make it possible to view objects slightly larger than an atom.

In effect, it can magnify objects up to 1 million times. Nevertheless, all electron microscopes suffer from a serious drawback. Since no living specimen can survive under their high vacuum, they cannot show the ever-changing movements that characterize a living cell.

Mosquito head Magnification: X 1,000 Magnification: X 200

Black Widow Spider Claw

Moth wing

Cucumber Skin

Staple through paper

Toilet paper

Hypodermic Needle

Foot of a House Fly

Deer Tick

Microscope Rules 1. Always use two hands to carry a microscope! One hand goes under the base and one on the arm.

2. Do not touch the lenses. If they are dirty, ask your teacher for special lens paper or ask the teacher to clean the lenses for you.

3.Be cautious when handling glass slides. Notify teacher if a slide breaks. Students should not handle broken glass.

Microscopes are not toys!! They are expensive tools!!