Microscopy

Light microscope

Passes into the condenser lens of the microscope and the object into the objective lens, uses light source

Advantages :

Uses live speciments

Easy to use

Provide coloured images

Relatively cheap

Disadvantages :

Low resolution

Low magnification

Transmission electron microscope (TEM)

Electron beam through a sample called a photomicrograph

Denser tissue appears darker and lighter tissue appears brighter

Very high magnification and resolution as electrons have shorter wavelength

Disadvatages :

Must be used in a vacuum

Expensive and requires a lot of training

Only black and white images

Artefacts may be present

Scanning electron microscope (SEM)

Electrons are directed across a specimen

Secondary electrons captured by a cathode ray tube

Advantages :

Produces 3D images

Can used on thick specimens

Can scan the surface of a specimen and capture all textures

Disadvantages :

Lower resolution and magnification compared to a TEM

Dead materials only

Expensive, tranining required

Yet to be