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Electron Microscopy quiz

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  • What is the main advantage of electron microscopy over light microscopy?
    Electron microscopy provides a much higher resolution, up to 0.002 nanometers, which is theoretically 100,000 times greater than light microscopy.
  • Why must specimens for electron microscopy be cut extremely thin?
    Specimens must be cut extremely thin, about 1/100th to 1/200th the thickness of a cell, to allow electrons to pass through or interact properly for visualization.
  • What is immuno gold staining used for in electron microscopy?
    Immuno gold staining labels specimens with a thin layer of gold, making them electron-dense and visible as black areas under the microscope.
  • How does metal shadowing enhance electron microscopy images?
    Metal shadowing coats the specimen with metal from one angle, creating shadows that highlight structural details of the sample.
  • What are the two main types of electron microscopy?
    The two main types are Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).
  • How does Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) work?
    TEM shoots electrons directly through the sample, similar to how light passes through a specimen in light microscopy.
  • How does Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) differ from TEM?
    SEM scans the surface of the specimen with electrons, providing detailed images of surface structures rather than internal details.
  • Why do electron-dense areas appear black in electron microscopy images?
    Electron-dense areas, such as those labeled with gold, block more electrons and thus appear black in the resulting image.
  • What cellular structure was used as an example in the electron microscopy lesson?
    The mitochondrion was used as an example, showing its double membrane and internal structures.
  • Why is the theoretical resolution of electron microscopy rarely achieved in practice?
    Practical limitations and errors in technique prevent electron microscopy from always reaching its theoretical maximum resolution.
  • What is the purpose of preserving specimens before electron microscopy?
    Preserving specimens ensures their structure remains intact during the preparation and imaging process.
  • How does the preparation of specimens for electron microscopy differ from light microscopy?
    Electron microscopy requires much thinner sections and more meticulous preparation to allow electron interaction.
  • What is the effect of coating a specimen with metal from only one angle in metal shadowing?
    Coating from one angle creates a shadow effect, which helps reveal the three-dimensional structure of the specimen.
  • What kind of details can electron microscopy reveal that light microscopy cannot?
    Electron microscopy can reveal intricate cellular structures, such as the double membrane of mitochondria, with much greater detail.
  • How can immuno gold staining be used to study specific proteins or organelles?
    By attaching gold-labeled antibodies to specific proteins or organelles, these structures can be visualized as black spots in electron microscopy images.