In the context of introduction to light microscopy, can bacteria be viewed with a standard compound light microscope?

• A. No; bacteria can only be viewed with a fluorescence microscope, not with a standard brightfield light microscope.
• B. Yes; bacteria can be viewed clearly without staining at low magnification (e.g., 40×) with detailed internal structures visible.
• C. No; bacteria are always too small to be seen with any type of light microscope and require electron microscopy to be viewed at all.
• D. Yes; many bacteria can be seen as small cells under high magnification (e.g., 1000× with oil immersion), though fine internal details are limited by resolution.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the resolving power of a standard compound light microscope, which typically allows magnification up to around 1000× with oil immersion and a resolution limit of about 0.2 micrometers.
2. Recognize the typical size range of bacteria, which is generally between 0.5 to 5 micrometers, making them large enough to be seen as small cells under high magnification.
3. Note that while bacteria can be visualized with a standard brightfield microscope, their fine internal structures are not clearly visible due to the resolution limits of light microscopy.
4. Consider the role of staining techniques, which enhance contrast and make bacteria easier to observe, but even without staining, bacteria can be detected as small shapes at high magnification.
5. Conclude that bacteria can indeed be viewed with a standard compound light microscope at high magnification (e.g., 1000× with oil immersion), but detailed internal structures require more advanced microscopy methods.