Microscopy

A microscope is an instrument that magnifies objects, too small to be seen with an unaided eye, producing larger images using a combination of lenses. Student lab microscopes tend to be brightfield microscopes, meaning that visible light is passed through the sample and used to form an image directly, without any modifications. Another type of light microscopy is fluorescence microscopy, which is used to image samples that fluoresce (absorb one wavelength of light and emit another). For further improved resolution, Confocal Microscopy is used. A confocal microscope uses a laser to excite a thin layer of the sample and collects only the emitted light coming from the target layer, producing a sharp image without interference from fluorescent molecules in the surrounding layer. Selection of the type microscopes is based on the type of sample (size, thickness, dynamics, physiology etc.) need to be imaged.