GRE Subject Test: Biology : Microscopy
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Understanding Light Microscopy
To what power would a microscope magnify an object if the 10x low-power objective were in place and the microscope has a standard eyepiece?
100x
10000x
1x
1000x
10x
100x
The occular, or eye piece, has a magnification power of 10x. If the 10x low-power objective were in place, the magnification would be multiplicative.
Example Question #2 : Microscopy
Which term is used to describe the smallest structure that can be seen by a light microscope?
Resolving power
Optical transmission
Visual acuity
Optotype
Index of refraction
Resolving power
Optical transmission is the amount of light that passes through a laboratory specimen. It can be used to measure the concentration of components in the specimen. Optotype is the variable-sized type used in testing visual acuity. Visual acuity is a measure of the resolving power of the eye; the smallest type that can be seen at a distance. The index of refraction is defined as the speed of light in a vacuum divided by the speed of light in a medium.
The resolving power of a light microscope is the smallest structure that can be seen, approximately 1 micrometer (a millionth of a meter) by the microscope.
Example Question #3 : Microscopy
When using a light microscope, the light waves that pass through or bounce off of a specimen are focused and magnified by which of the following?
Iris
Fine focus
Occulars
Lens
Diaphgram
Lens
Light microscopes use lenses that range from 4x to 100x, are made of glass, and focus and magnify light rays.
The diaphragm regulates the amount of light that passes through an object being magnified. The iris controls the diameter of the beam of light entering the lens. The fine focus is used to move the objectives (lenses) to view objects clearly. The occulars are the lenses that one would look into to view the object.
Example Question #1 : Lab Techniques
Which of the following is used to focus the electrons when using an electron microscope?
Laser
Reticle
Lens
Magnetic field
Phase plate
Magnetic field
Electron microscopes use beams of electrons instead of light. The electrons are focused by magnetic fields rather than by lenses.
A phase plate is used with a light microscope to view details of objects characterized by differences in refractive index and, as such, have a difference in brightness or color. Tissues deep within the body can be imaged using the technique of multiphoton microscopy, in which photons are directed into tissues by an infrared laser. The reticle is a tiny grid pattern inserted into the eyepiece lens. It is used to make measurements of objects seen through the lens.
Example Question #5 : Microscopy
Which of the following is not a type of the electron microscope?
Reflection electron microscope
Scanning electron microscope
Scanning transmission electron microscope
Transmission electron microscope
Retraction electron microscope
Retraction electron microscope
The incorrect answer is retraction electron microscope. Transmission electron microscope is the simplest type by using a high voltage electron beam to formulate an image. Scanning electron microscopes produces an image through a scanning electron beam. Reflection electron microscopes use an electron beam that scatters when it hits a specimen, the image is then compiled from the scattered electron pattern. Scanning transmission electron microscopes uses a thin ray of electrons that scatters through the specimen to resolve the image.
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