The Microscopic World
Janssen Microscope
Cytology (from Greek, kytos "cell" and logos, "study"), is basically the study of cells. It's believed that the first microscope was invented in 1591, by Zacharias Janssen and his father, called Hans Janssen. They were Dutch manufacturers of eyeglass. They've discovered that two lenses of glass, placed at the ends of a tube, could expand and therefore alow you to see what is invisible for the naked eye. Unfortunately there is no record about what the Janssens have observed under the microscope.
Like Everything, there's always a first time. A Dutch called Antonie Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723), was the first person studying the Nature using the microscope, recording every study realized. As he had learned a lot of techniques, he developed a microscope with only one lense. This microscope is called Simple Microscope.
Subsequently, an English natural philosopher called Robert Hooke (1635-1703) developed a more powerful microscope than Leeuwenhoek had created. Similar to the Janssen's one, with two lenses, it is called Compound Microscope.
These events were very important for the creation of a new branch of study. An area that gives the base for the study of other subjects.
Like Everything, there's always a first time. A Dutch called Antonie Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723), was the first person studying the Nature using the microscope, recording every study realized. As he had learned a lot of techniques, he developed a microscope with only one lense. This microscope is called Simple Microscope.
Subsequently, an English natural philosopher called Robert Hooke (1635-1703) developed a more powerful microscope than Leeuwenhoek had created. Similar to the Janssen's one, with two lenses, it is called Compound Microscope.
These events were very important for the creation of a new branch of study. An area that gives the base for the study of other subjects.
What is the cell ?
Image seen by Robert Hooke seeing the cork.
Cell is the smallest constitutive unit alive. It's a structural and funcional block of living organisms. Although being small, has more than 10 thousand molecules in its constitution, wherein there is water, small and large molecules.
A scholar called Robert Hooke, between 1663 and 1664, used his microscope to perform investigations about nature. In 1665 presented to the Royal Society of London the result of his search about the structure of cork (bark of a tree called cork oak) which revealed that it was constituted of microscopic compartments. Each cavity was called "cell". The tissue observed by Hooke was composed of dead cells, in which their delimitations had a storage of a substance called suberin, so that there was no flow of water or gas. The various observations done by Hooke resulted in a book named Micrographia, the first scientific best-seller.
A scholar called Robert Hooke, between 1663 and 1664, used his microscope to perform investigations about nature. In 1665 presented to the Royal Society of London the result of his search about the structure of cork (bark of a tree called cork oak) which revealed that it was constituted of microscopic compartments. Each cavity was called "cell". The tissue observed by Hooke was composed of dead cells, in which their delimitations had a storage of a substance called suberin, so that there was no flow of water or gas. The various observations done by Hooke resulted in a book named Micrographia, the first scientific best-seller.
Units of measurement
On the left side there's a table showing the main units of measurement used in cytology.
- Without microscope we can observe some big things, for instance an egg fish.
- With optical microscope we are able to see the most cells and the biggest organelles.
- With electron microscope we can see the smallest organelles and some macromolecules.
- Without microscope we can observe some big things, for instance an egg fish.
- With optical microscope we are able to see the most cells and the biggest organelles.
- With electron microscope we can see the smallest organelles and some macromolecules.