HOW HAD TECHNOLOGY CONTRIBUTED TO THE
DEVELOPMENT OF OUR KNOWLEDGE OF CELL
STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION?
Hand lens
- Creation
The hand lens, also known as the magnifying glass is a technological concept refined
throughout centuries by many scientists from many places, because of this mystery still
surrounds its creation however evidence suggest that its first design may have originated
from ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia around 750 B.C, where it is believed that artisans
used small pieces crystal, glass, and obsidian as magnifiers (The fascinating history of The
magnifying glass 2024). In addition to the Egyptians, the romans were also credited with
contributions to the hand lens, specifically philosopher Seneca who used water and glass to
magnify letters, and Emperor Nero who used emeralds to see his fighters better around 4
bc-65 ad. Further developments occurred around the world but it wasn’t until the 13 th
century around 1250 A.D when the writings of Roger Bacon an English friar and philosopher
laid the foundations of lenses through his work of magnification with convex lens
essentially creating the worlds first hand glass.
- Diagram and description
Figure 1(Agungfatria, 2023)
- What scientific advancements were made
The creation of the hand lens was a scientific invention that was crucial to the development
of many other technologies that magnify the world allowing scientist to expand their
understanding of many areas very near and very far.
- Possibilities for future research
In the future the hand lens will continue to serve as one of the fundamental bases of
development for many technologies.
Light microscope
- Creation
The light microscope, a device capable of viewing microscopic objects, is an invention built
upon the designs and works of many scientist. The idea of magnification through
the use of two glasses consecutively positioned wasn’t a new idea, and around the
late 16th century, spectacle maker, Hans, and Zacharias Janssen were credited with
the first ever compound microscope. Around this time (1600-1620) several scientist
and astronomers became invested int the subject, with Galileo Galilei converting
his telescope into a microscope with one diverging lens, and one converging lens,
or astronomer Cornelius Drebbel who created a microscope with 2 converging lens.
Later that century (1667), Robert hook, an English scholar released the book
“Micrographia” containing his microscopic observations making the hobby available
to the wider public. In addition to his book, Hooke also developed several
commonly adopted refinements to the microscope such as the stage, illumination,
and the coarse and fine focus. For a period (1632-1723) the highest magnification
was 200x by a cloth merchant, Antonie wan Leeuwenhoek however instead of
using a compound microscope Leeuwenhoek utilised a design that consisted of one
lens, thanks to this he became the first person to observe living and moving cells.
Even though mystery still surrounds how Leeuwenhoek achieved such high
magnification for his day, it has been speculated that he just crafted better lenses.
It wasn’t up until the late 19th century when what we know as the light microscope
today was invented. Ernst abbe a German scientist provided scientific instructions
for producing the lens instead of trial and error. A few years later, the German
professor august Kohler developed the commonly accepted illumination procedure
“Kohler illumination” for the light microscope.
- Diagram and description
2(Light microscope)
- What scientific advancements were made
The light microscope has made many scientific examples possible such as the discovery of
cells, and many microorganisms, the light microscope has also made the development of
the cell theory possible. The discovery of cells through the light microscope has also
enabled scientists to observe and map the structures of living organisms and bacteria,
assisting in not just research but medicine as well.
- Possibilities for future research
The light microscope will serve as a base structure for many new designs of microscopes
that will allow scientist to delve deeper into the understanding of the world and everything
around us.
Autoradiography
- Creation
Autoradiography was first observed accidently around 1867 when Niepce de St victor
discovered that some uranium salts had darkened photographic elusions. Later in 1896
Henri becquerel observed the same phenomenon with radiation from uranium. Soon after
this process was used by many scientist to prove many theories. Examples of this includes
Paris’s discovery of gamma radiation, and the fact that radiation doesn’t bend even in an
magnetic field. After world war 2, autoradiography was discovered as a biological technique
with the use of photographic emulsions and stripping film. In more Modern times, the
stripping film has been replaced with imaging plates and is now used to study radioactivity.
- Diagram and description
3(ConductScience, 2024)
- What scientific advancements were made
Autoradiography has been used for a myriad of reasons specifically, quantifying and
locating radioactive materiel for research purposes.
- Possibilities for future research
Autoradiography has endless possibilities for future research such as increased
magnification or integration with other technologies and areas such as drugs, neurobiology,
and cancer research.
Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM)
- Creation
The (TEM) is a microscope based on the works of many scientist such as Galileo Galilei and
Antony van Leeuwenhoek. In the 1920s, the understanding that electrons and magnetic
and electric fields, move similarly to light and mirrors, with this in 1926 Hans Busch
developed the first ever electromagnetic lens. Roughly 5 years later, Ernst Ruska and Max
knoll form berlin university created the first ever transmission Electron Microscope with up
to 400X magnification. Over the years the quality of the lens and power has drastically
increased, till in 2016, the first documented image of hepatitis C was observed thanks to
the use of a (TEM).
- Diagram and description
Figure 4(Transmission Electron Microscope 2025)
- What scientific advancements were made
The (TEM) has enabled many scientific advancements especially, the understanding of the
structures of materials and organisms at a molecular level.
- Possibilities for future research
The (TEM) opens up a door for future possibilities for research such imaging at the atomic
level, more advance 3d imaging systems or the study of complex biological systems.
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