Final answer:
Starch grains in cell cytoplasm are used for energy storage. These polysaccharides are made up of glucose and are broken down by enzymes when the cell requires energy. Microscopy techniques allow us to see these starch grains under high magnification by increasing contrast and resolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cells use starch grains stored in the cytoplasm for energy. Starch is a type of polysaccharide, which is made up of long chains of glucose molecules. When a plant cell needs energy, enzymes break down these starch grains into smaller molecules like maltose and glucose, which can then enter various metabolic pathways to be used as an energy source. This process is similar to how humans digest starch through the enzyme amylase in saliva, breaking it down into simple sugars for absorption.
Under high magnification, these starch grains are visible using various forms of microscopy. Light microscopes can reveal the size and shape of these grains, and, when combined with stains such as iodine, can make these otherwise translucent structures visible. Electron microscopes offer a higher resolution which provides more detailed images of the starch grains and is particularly useful for seeing the fine structure of as they are typically smaller than what a light microscope can resolve.