Final answer:
The preparation of samples for light microscopy, including fluorescent microscopy, is less destructive and can be used to view living cells. Electron microscopy, on the other hand, requires sample preparation that kills the cells, making it impossible to observe living tissues but provides high detail and resolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
Preparation of Samples for Microscopy
The preparation of samples for light microscopy and electron microscopy differ significantly, affecting the type of specimens that can be viewed with each. Light microscopy may use either wet mounts or fixed specimens that can be stained using various techniques. For instance, fluorescent microscopy, a type of light microscopy, involves the use of fluorochromes that may be attached to antibodies for immunofluorescence or DNA sequences for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).
Conversely, preparing specimens for electron microscopy involves more rigorous processes that ultimately kill the sample. Techniques such as thin sectioning for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) or sputter-coating for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are required. The use of a vacuum and a beam of electrons for visualization means that live cells cannot be observed using these methods.
The choice between these techniques depends on whether the details at the molecular level are required, which would necessitate electron microscopy, or if observing live cells is more crucial, making light microscopy the favorable choice. In clinical contexts and for educational purposes, these differences guide which microscopy technique is appropriate for the given research or diagnostic requirements.