Homework

On a loose leaf paper answer the following questions (require reading of chapter 3 of your textbook and search for additional sources):

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the light and electron microscopes discussed in Chapter 3 that are used to study microorganisms? Focus your response in terms of the following parameters:
Range of magnification
Resolving ability
Sample preparation
Possible states of sample (e.g. whole organism, part of an organism, living, non-living, etc.)
What type of microscope would you use to investigate each of the following scenarios and why (your answer to question 1 will help):
Determine the relative sizes of two eukaryotic cells.
Identify a virus from a contaminated sample.
Identify bacteria from a contaminated sample.
What are advantages and disadvantages of the differential staining techniques discussed in Chapter 3 that are used to study microorganisms? Focus your response in terms of the following parameters:
Ease and cost of sample preparation
Why you would use it (i.e. what information is imparted)
Specificity of identification
Chance of false positives or negatives