Question

What is a drawback to using light microscopy? Choose one:

A. It can be used only to view samples that are sliced very thinly.
B. It cannot be used to view a whole cell or organism.
C. It cannot be used to view structures smaller than a bacterium.
D. It requires the use of fluorescent probes.
E. It cannot be used to view living cells.

Answer 1

The limitation of light microscopy is its lower resolution compared to electron microscopes, restricting its ability to view very small structures finer than approximately 200 nanometers like subcellular organelles.

Step-by-step explanation:

One drawback to using light microscopy is that it has a lower resolution compared to electron microscopy, which means it cannot be used to view structures smaller than a bacterium, such as organelles or viruses in fine detail. Light microscopes are limited by the wavelengths of visible light, meaning they cannot resolve structures that are closer together than approximately 200 nanometers. While light microscopes can reveal internal cellular structures and are essential tools for viewing living cells, they do not offer the high resolution provided by electron microscopes, thus making it difficult to observe the intricate details of smaller specimens.