The transmission electron microscope, commonly referred to as a TEM, is
more powerful than the traditional light microscope. Transmission
electron microscopes allow the user to see the fine details of the
specimens which are normally not seen in microscopes of a lower power.
The invention of the transmission electron microscope (TEM) enabled
scientists to view living material in a way that was previously
impossible. Bacteria and other living matter could now be examined on
the cellular level through their magnetic structures, allowing
scientists to view formation of DNA chains and crystalline structures to
determine if certain cells are forming properly or are "misaligned." TEM
technology has become a useful diagnostic tool for disease and
infection, allowing doctors to identify healthy tissue from damaged
areas, and allowing pharmaceutical companies to develop affective
treatments to defeat disease-causing bacteria.