Editing Microscopic scale (section)

== History ==
Whilst compound microscopes were first developed in the 1590s, the significance of the microscopic scale was only truly established in the 1600s when [[Marcello Malpighi|Marcello Malphigi]] and [[Antonie van Leeuwenhoek]] microscopically observed frog lungs and microorganisms. As microbiology was established, the significance of making scientific observations at a microscopic level increased.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wills |first=Matthew |date=2018-03-27 |title=The Evolution of the Microscope |url=https://daily.jstor.org/the-evolution-of-the-microscope/ |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=JSTOR Daily |language=en-US}}</ref>

Published in 1665, [[Robert Hooke]]'s book Micrographia details his microscopic observations including fossils insects, sponges, and plants, which was possible through his development of the compound microscope. During his studies of cork, he discovered plant cells and coined the term '[[Cell (biology)|cell]]'.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Robert Hooke |url=https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/hooke.html |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=ucmp.berkeley.edu}}</ref>

Prior to the use of the micro- prefix, other terms were originally incorporated into the International [[metric system]] in 1795, such as [[centi-]] which represented a factor of 10<sup>-2</sup>, and [[milli-]], which represented a factor of 10<sup>-3</sup>.<ref name="Naughtin-2008">{{Cite web |last=Naughtin |date=2008 |title=Metrication Timeline |url=http://www.metricationmatters.com/docs/MetricationTimeline.pdf |access-date=2022-05-12}}</ref>

Over time the importance of measurements made at the microscopic scale grew, and an instrument named the Millionometre was developed by watch-making company owner Antoine LeCoultre in 1844. This instrument had the ability to precisely measure objects to the nearest micrometre.<ref name="Naughtin-2008" />

The [[British association for the advancement of science|British Association for the Advancement of Science]] committee incorporated the micro- prefix into the newly established [[Cgs System|CGS system]] in 1873.<ref name="Naughtin-2008" />

The micro- prefix was finally added to the official [[SI system]] in 1960, acknowledging measurements that were made at an even smaller level, denoting a factor of 10<sup>-6</sup>.<ref name="Naughtin-2008" />