Organelles are identified by microscopy, and can also be purified by cell fractionation.There are many types of organelles, particularly in eukaryotic cells. Prokaryotes were once thought not to have organelles, but some examples have now been identified.
Functionally-differentiated multicellular aggregates in multicellular forms or metazoa are in this sense organs, while, for functionally-differentiated portions of unicellular organisms or for such differentiated portions of the unicellular germ-elements of metazoa, the diminutive organula is appropriate. Cited after : Oxford English Dictionary online, entry for organelle.
The larger organelles, such as the nucleus and vacuoles, are easily visible with the light microscope. They were among the first biological discoveries made after the invention of the microscope.
In addition, the number of individual organelles of each type found in a given cell varies depending upon the function of that cell.
Source: Wikipedia > Organelle
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