Understanding Light Microscopy

This textbook introduces readers to the modern light microscope. It can either be used alone or in conjunction with a practical course. The book begins with an account of how the light microscope works, and how to set up the instrument for optimum performance. The nature of light, and its influence on the function of the microscope, as well as practical advice on selecting the most suitable components, is explained to the reader. An account of the different types of currently-available light microscopy modes follows, together with a guide, borne out by the authors practical experience, on how to choose between transmitted or reflected light microscopes; wide-field, confocal, deconvolution or multi-photon microscopes. A description of specimen preparation is given, as well as advice upon cameras, image acquisition and post-processing of data. * Gives a didactic introduction to the light microscope * Explanation complemented with simple experiments where appropriate * Simple explanation (from teaching the subject) enables a self-taught student to start from scratch to set up and acquire high quality images * Leads the student on, should they wish, to use advanced fluorescence and confocal microscopes within a research institute or core microscopy facility * Well-illustrated in colour, the illustrations are selected (from long teaching experience) to support text * Workable practical protocols * Includes a chapter summary to introduce learning objectives Part of the Royal Microscopical Society co-publication book program