alleryStart learning →Why is staining a drawback when a light microscope is used to study cell components?
AIt lowers resolving power sharply
BStaining usually kills the cells
CIt bends light away from the lens
DStains block the eyepiece optics
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. Staining usually kills the cells
1. A light microscope is prized because it can view living organisms.
2. Individual cells are generally transparent, so their components cannot be told apart without special stains.
3. Staining usually kills the cells, so the advantage of viewing living material is lost.
4. The stain does not degrade the optics or the resolving power, it destroys the specimen.
5. The drawback is that staining usually kills the cells.
_Source: OpenStax Biology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 4 "Cell Structure", section 4.1 Studying Cells_
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