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BIOLOGY, M2 EQ-Bank 2

Discuss one similarity and one difference between using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) versus scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in the study of plant structures.   (2 marks)

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Similarities (include one of the following):

  • Both transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) use beams of electrons rather than light to create high-resolution images.
  • Extremely high magnification is achievable in both TEM and SEM.
  • Specimens for both technologies are very thin sections of plants made up of non-living cells.
  • Specimens for both technologies need to be in a low pressure environment or vacuum.  

Difference (include one of the following):

  • TEMs produce two-dimensional images while SEMs produce three-dimensional images.
  • Magnification and resolution of images if greater in TEM vs SEM.
Show Worked Solution

Similarities (include one of the following):

  • Both transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) use beams of electrons rather than light to create high-resolution images.
  • Extremely high magnification is achievable in both TEM and SEM.
  • Specimens for both technologies are very thin sections of plants made up of non-living cells.
  • Specimens for both technologies need to be in a low pressure environment or vacuum.  

Difference (include one of the following):

  • TEMs produce two-dimensional images while SEMs produce three-dimensional images.
  • Magnification and resolution of images if greater in TEM vs SEM.

BIOLOGY, M2 EQ-Bank 1 MC

Which of the following statements about light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in plant cell imaging is correct?

  1. Light microscopy provides higher magnification than TEM
  2. TEM can be used to observe living plant cells
  3. Light microscopy allows for the observation of chloroplast structure
  4. TEM provides detailed images of the plant cell wall's molecular structure
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\(D\)

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  • TEM provides much higher magnification and resolution than light microscopy, allowing it to reveal detailed images of the plant cell wall.
  • Light microscopy, while useful for observing overall cell structure and some organelles, cannot provide this level of detail.

\(\Rightarrow D\)

BIOLOGY, M2 EQ-Bank 1

Describe two different imaging technologies that can be used to investigate plant structure.   (2 marks)

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Light microscopy:

  • Light microscopes use visible light to magnify plant structures, allowing visualisation of cell walls, chloroplasts, and other organelles.
  • This technology is particularly useful for observing living plant tissues and can achieve magnifications up to about 1000x, enabling the study of cellular organisation and basic tissue structure. 

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM):

  • TEMs use a beam of electrons instead of light to create highly detailed images of ultra-thin sections of plant cells, achieving magnifications up to 2,000,000x.
  • This technology allows researchers to observe the intricate internal structures of plant cells, including chloroplasts and mitochondria.
Show Worked Solution

Light microscopy:

  • Light microscopes use visible light to magnify plant structures, allowing visualisation of cell walls, chloroplasts, and other organelles.
  • This technology is particularly useful for observing living plant tissues and can achieve magnifications up to about 1000x, enabling the study of cellular organisation and basic tissue structure. 

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM):

  • TEMs use a beam of electrons instead of light to create highly detailed images of ultra-thin sections of plant cells, achieving magnifications up to 2,000,000x.
  • This technology allows researchers to observe the intricate internal structures of plant cells, including chloroplasts and mitochondria.