Final answer:
The image of a whole cell is not very crisp in epifluorescence microscopy when using conventional microscopes due to limited resolution and out-of-focus flare in thick specimens. Confocal and two-photon microscopes address these issues by reducing out-of-focus light and using techniques for deeper tissue penetration.
Step-by-step explanation:
When using conventional microscopy to view whole cells in epifluorescence microscopy, the images may not be crisp due to the limited resolution, which is the ability to distinguish between two points.
Conventional light microscopes often exhibit out-of-focus flare when viewing thick specimens, resulting in poor resolution. In comparison, confocal microscopes and two-photon microscopes integrate techniques to reduce out-of-focus light and therefore improve image clarity.
While conventional microscopes may allow for the visualization of cells and their details, they struggle with achieving high contrast and resolution, especially when the specimens are thick. Unlike conventional fluorescent microscopes, confocal microscopes use a laser to scan multiple z-planes to eliminate out-of-focus light, and two-photon microscopes use long-wavelength light for deeper penetration and less damage to cells.