Compound Light Microscope•Uses two lenses and has a light source

•Ocular lens usually magnifies x10

•Can be used to view living cells

•Highest magnification of a compound light microscope is 2,000x

Electron Microscope• Beam of electrons produce an enlarged image of specimen

•Highest magnification of an electron microscope is 200,000x

• Cannot be used to view living cells

Scanning Electron Microscope

•Electron beam is focused on a specimen coated with a very thin layer of metal

•Electrons that bounce off form an image on a fluorescent screen

•Show 3-D images of cell surfaces

•Black and white images only (artificial colors sometimes added)

Transmission Electron Microscope•An electron beam is directed at a very thin slice of a specimen stained with metal ions

•Electrons passing through the specimen strike a fluorescent screen, forming an image

•The formed image can show the internal structure of a cell in fine detail

•Black and white images only (artificial colors sometimes added)