Microscopy

The examination of minute objects by means of a microscope, an instrument which provides an enlarged image of an object not visible with the naked eye.</P> Aside from the usual microscopy, there are various special types of microscopy including, for example: > >Electron microscopy -- Microscopy in which an electron beam replaces light to form the image.

>Fluorescence microscopy -- Microscopy based on the fact that fluorescent materials emit visible light when they are irradiated with ultraviolet (UV) rays.

>Immune electron microscopy -- Electron microscopy of biological specimens to which a specific antibody has been bound.

>Immunofluorescence microscopy -- Microscopy done using antibodies labeled with a fluorescing substance and a fluorescence microscope to detect the binding of the antibody through the production of a characteristic visible light under UV light.

>Nomarski microscopy -- An unusual type of microscopy requiring a special optical system (Nomarski optics) to do 'differential interference contrast microscopy.' >Time-lapse microscopy -- Microscopy in which the same object is photographed at regular intervals over time to, for example, observe a cell go through division.

</LI></UL> The word 'microscopy' comes from Greek roots: mikros, small + skopeo, to view = to view small (objects).