GRE Subject Test: Biology : Understanding Light Microscopy

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Subject Test: Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Lab Techniques

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?

Possible Answers:

10000x

1000x

10x

1x

100x

Correct answer:

100x

Explanation:

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 : Lab Techniques

Which term is used to describe the smallest structure that can be seen by a light microscope?

Possible Answers:

Optical transmission

Index of refraction

Visual acuity

Resolving power

Optotype

Correct answer:

Resolving power

Explanation:

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 : Lab Techniques

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?

Possible Answers:

Occulars

Lens

Fine focus

Iris

Diaphgram

Correct answer:

Lens

Explanation:

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. 

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