MCQ Detailed View

The correct answer is Microscope. Microorganisms, also called microbes, are living organisms that are too small to be seen with the naked eye. They include bacteria, protozoa, some fungi, algae, and viruses (though viruses require special techniques to be visualized). Because of their tiny size, they can only be observed using microscopes, which magnify them to a level where their structures become visible.

The compound light microscope is the most common tool used in schools and laboratories to observe microorganisms. It uses multiple lenses and visible light to magnify specimens up to around 1000 times. With this, students can see bacteria, yeast cells, and some protozoa.

For much smaller organisms, such as viruses, scientists use the electron microscope. Electron microscopes use beams of electrons instead of light, allowing magnifications of hundreds of thousands of times. This makes it possible to see the detailed structure of viruses, cell organelles, and even molecular complexes.

Microscopes have played a vital role in science. The invention of the microscope in the 17th century by pioneers like Antonie van Leeuwenhoek allowed humans to discover the “invisible world” of microbes for the first time. Leeuwenhoek is often called the “Father of Microbiology” because he was the first to observe and describe bacteria and protozoa using simple microscopes he built himself.

Understanding microorganisms is essential because they play key roles in health, disease, agriculture, and industry. Some microorganisms are beneficial, such as those used in making yogurt, antibiotics, and medicines, while others cause diseases. Without microscopes, studying them would not be possible.

🔑 Key Facts:

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  Microorganisms = living organisms too small to see with the naked eye.

  
  


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  Observed using microscopes, not telescopes or spectroscopes.

  
  


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  Light microscope shows bacteria and protozoa.

  
  


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  Electron microscope is used for viruses and ultrastructure.

  
  


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  Antonie van Leeuwenhoek first observed microbes in the 17th century.

  
  

👉 Final Answer: Microorganisms can only be seen with a microscope.