Which type of light microscope achieves the greatest resolution and highest magnification?

• A. Dark-field microscope
• B. Confocal laser scanning microscope
• C. Phase-contrast microscope
• D. Bright-field microscope

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of resolution and magnification in microscopy. Resolution is the ability of a microscope to distinguish two close points as separate, while magnification is how much larger the image appears compared to the actual specimen.
2. Step 2: Review the characteristics of each microscope type: Bright-field microscopes use standard light and have moderate resolution and magnification; Dark-field microscopes enhance contrast by scattering light but do not significantly increase resolution; Phase-contrast microscopes improve contrast for transparent specimens but have similar resolution limits to bright-field.
3. Step 3: Learn about the confocal laser scanning microscope, which uses laser light and optical sectioning to produce high-resolution images with greater depth selectivity and higher magnification compared to traditional light microscopes.
4. Step 4: Compare the maximum achievable resolution and magnification of each microscope type, noting that confocal laser scanning microscopes surpass others due to their advanced optics and laser technology.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the confocal laser scanning microscope achieves the greatest resolution and highest magnification among the options provided.