Which instrument should be chosen to reveal the internal structures of a cell rather than its surface?
AA scanning electron microscope
BA standard light microscope
CA binocular dissecting microscope
DA transmission electron microscope
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. A transmission electron microscope
1. Two electron microscope designs are described, and they differ in what the beam does.
2. In a scanning electron microscope the beam moves back and forth across the surface, giving surface detail.
3. In a transmission electron microscope the beam penetrates the cell and gives detail of internal structures.
4. A light microscope cannot resolve that level of internal detail, and a dissecting microscope is built for low-power whole-specimen work.
5. Internal structure calls for a transmission electron microscope.
6. Both electron designs kill the specimen during preparation, so neither can be turned on a living cell.
_Source: OpenStax Biology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 4 "Cell Structure", section 4.1 Studying Cells_
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