Let’s read! Exploring tiny life forms In the past, scientists could only observe the world around them with the naked eye. However, around the year 1700, the Dutch scientist Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, changed science forever. He created his own microscope that was basically a powerful magnifying glass. It consisted of a tiny lens, almost the size of a pinhead, attached to a hole between two layers of brass, and a pin in which to place the sample. It was used by holding the lens close to the eye and looking at the sample. Van Leeuwenhoek discovered a new world, full of tiny creatures. He observed and drew pictures of cells and many microorganisms. He was the first person to observe blood cells, study fleas and other tiny invertebrates, and see single-celled algae and protozoa… But perhaps his most impressive achievement was that he discovered the smallest living things in existence: bacteria. For these reasons, he is known as the ‘Father of Microbiology’. R E V I E W T I M E ANSWER these questions. a. What did Van Leeuwenhoek create in 1700? b. Why was Van Leeuwenhoek’s invention so important? c. What type of living things did his invention allow him to observe? d. Why is Van Leeuwenhoek called the ‘Father of Microbiology’? WRITE the importance of microscopes in daily life. Microscopes are important in daily life because... 10 · t e n
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