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Microworld enlarged: high-resolution light microscopy

21.04.2017

When scientists are investigating cells and their organelles in their structure and dynamics and want to disturb as little as possible, they use a light microscope. Although the basic system is already several centuries old, due to steadily development it is still an important instrument in the research to date.

Light microscopy makes it possible to see structures up to a size of about 300 nanometers. This means that practically all pro- and eukaryotic cells as well as the organelles can be observed within the cells and their dynamics can be analyzed. For smaller structures, on the other hand, the electron microscope is usually required, since the resolution of the light microscope is limited by the quality of the lenses (numerical aperture) and the wavelength of the microscopy light. [more]