The Leeuwenhoek Specimens

What the Simple Microscope reveals

Spiral bacteria Cyanophytes

1) Spiral bacteria as viewed by Leeuwenhoek

Free-swimming bacteria of the genus Spirillum are clearly resolved by
a replica Leeuwenhoek microscope, using a single lens as magnifying component.

2) Cyanophytes from a Leeuwenhoek specimen

A colony of Microspora cells, with all the apperarance of viability, was seen
in a reconstituted algal specimen originally sent to London by Leeuwenhoek in the 17h century.

Truffle Sperm

3) The Leeuwenhoek microscope and truffle spores

The truffle, Tuber melanospora, has spores with spiny projections
of bacterial dimensions. They are clearly resolved by the Leeuwenhoek lens.

4) Leeuwenhoek image of human sperm

A single lens - like Leeuwenhoek's original microscope - clearly resolves
the appearance of human spermatozoa. More recent attempts to reprise
these observations by BBC Television proved to be unsuccessful.

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Consult introductory page History of the Microscope or read on Leeuwenhoek as experimental biologist.