Why can't you view living cells through electron microscope?

Answer 1

"In electron microscope the object is viewed in highly vaccum conditions. Living cells would disentegrate in such a condition." This answer is not mine it comes from the "why can't electron microscopes be used to view cell structures" question

Answer 2

Both light and electron microscopes.

Light microscopes are the more widely used and can also view living cells.

Electron microscopes are only used by trained specialists.

Electron microscopes are more accurate to view cells as they have a greater magnification and resolution.

Answer 3

Electron microscopes must be used in vacuum conditions because otherwise the air molecules will absorb the electron beams...and in vacuum conditions, of course no respiration can take place and so the living cells die before you get to view them.

For that reason, light microscopes are used too view living processes rather than electron microscopes.

Answer 4

I'm not sure about ALL electron microscopes, but with Transmission Electron Microscopes (for viewing internal structures of a specimen), specimens have to be dehydrated, stained, and then sliced ultra thin. Then they're stained AGAIN with heavy metals.

With Scanning Electron Microscopes (for viewing the external parts of whole specimens), the specimen must first be coated with a one atom thick layer of metal.

Needless to say, if you're dyed, dehydrated & sliced OR covered in metal, you're going to die. Plus- these are the two most common types of electron microscopes.

P.S. my text book says: 'electron microscopes cannot be used to study living specimens because the methods used to prepare the specimen kill the cells.'

Answer 5

They are too small to be seen.<---- I don't know who wrote this, but it's completely incorrect!

I'm not sure about ALL electron microscopes, but with Transmission Electron Microscopes (for viewing internal structures of a specimen), specimens have to be dehydrated, stained, and then sliced ultra thin. Then they're stained AGAIN with heavy metals.

With Scanning Electron Microscopes (for viewing the external parts of whole specimens), the specimen must first be coated with a one atom thick layer of metal.

Needless to say, if you're dyed, dehydrated & sliced OR covered in metal, you're going to die. Plus- these are the two most common types of electron microscopes.

P.S. my text book says: 'electron microscopes cannot be used to study living specimens because the methods used to prepare the specimen kill the cells.'

Answer 6

An electron microscope which is a very high powered medical laboratory tool, is needed to view viruses at thousands, hundreds of thousands and millions of times magnification because of their extremely small size.

Answer 7

Spicemen must be placed in a vacuum chamber. Since living cells cannot survive in a vacuum, they cannot be viewed using elctron microscopes.

Answer 8

most specimen are dead when you see them under a light microscopes

Answer 9

No. The specimens need to be dried and then plated in gold for use in an electron microscope.