Students should be able to understand how microscopy techniques have developed over time and explain how electron microscopy has increased understanding of sub-cellular structures. • An electron microscope has much higher magnification and resolving power than a light microscope. This means that it can be used to study cells in much finer detail. This has enabled biologists to see and understand many more sub-cellular structures. • Students should be able to carry out calculations involving magnification, real size and image size using the formula: magnification = size of image / size of real object.