Since we have encountered our biology classes in high school we learned the importance of cells in all human beings. Considering it as the fundamental building blocks of life has been the cell’s core essence. Thus, cellular biology and microscopy have been regarded for years as the perfect key to biological researches and explorations.

Why Microscopy?

Cells are made up of different components which are not seen by the naked eye. Such parts include the cytoplasm, which composed of proteins, amino acid, fats, carbohydrates, and the nucleus. Scientists have pinpointed the effect of cell environment on the regulation of genes and onset of diseases. However, all of these will never be studied without the help of microscopes.

Although many say that microscopy’s importance as a method in studying cellular biology lately was being overshadowed by some methods of molecular biology, it still remains an important tool. Good thing that there are now recent advances in microscopy. Through these, studying cellular function in living beings, microscopy is making its mark again in the vanguard of cellular biology.

Light Microscope vs. Electron Microscope

We all know for a fact that understanding the function and development of cells has its bind to careful and tedious scrutiny of the cellular structure. This is the reason why for more than a century light microscope has been utilized in cellular biology.

You may be wondering why light microscopes. Well, you see using a light microscope, which are often considered as biology microscopes has been a tradition in biology classes and researches. Remember, light microscope is grounded on the basic principle and function of magnification—that an object or specimen is magnified in size so it becomes evident to the naked eye. However, this conventional microscope has its limitations.

There is a considerable limit to the utility of magnification an observer can achieve upon using a light microscope. Why? The resolving power of the light microscope’s lenses cannot immediately and solely serve its function of clear resolution between two different specimens as objects of distinct structures.

This is the reason why biologists constructed and created various dyes or strains which could stain the cell and its organelles. Through such process cellular structure can be seen when viewed on a light microscope.

Because of this the electron microscope was created to supplement the ordinary light microscope, with its useful magnification that uses the very short helpful wavelengths of electron beams in motion to produce images in which fine features are resolved.

Electron microscope is commonly used in cellular biological studies, and as well as in molecular biology, because of its significant role in the knowing of the intricacies of cellular structure.

Another thing which made electron microscope popular in cellular biology is the fact that only those extremely thin objects can be viewed under such microscope. Specimens must oppose beam damage and vacuum dehydration.

Why? Well, if otherwise will occur bombardment with electrons will result to extreme overheating and consequent damage. If the specimens are thick multiple scattering of electrons will destruct the contrast of images.

Microscopy Developments

Because of such limitations and also due to the increasing advancements in technology, light microscopy has undergone enhancement for the past decades. Included therein are the Nomarski differential interference contrast microscopy and Hoffman Modulation Contrast microscopy. These permitted biologists study structures and developments in the living cell without imploring staining agents.

Not only did scientists found ways to advance the contrast in such microscopes, so that magnification will be very clear during cellular biology researches and assessments in the laboratory, but also now electron microscope is advanced.

You can check the scanning electron microscope (SEM) to see its difference with other microscopes. This optical device which produces 3D effects is being used not only in cellular biology and medicine, but also in forensics.

This microscope uses a detector matched with a focused electron beam in scanning the specimen. Its magnification is restricted by the area and length viewed.

With thee microscopes and with the development of other optical devices cellular biology and microscopy are reaching farther heights and depths. Through the incorporation of microscopy in biology knowing the existence of cells and other basic fundamentals was made possible.