Question

sherman is a medical researcher trying to find the causitive agent of a very sick patient with a lung disease. he is fairly sure that the germ causing the illness is not a bacteria, because saliva samples from the patient have not grown any bacteria in the lab. he has also not seen any cells under the labs basic microscope. all signs seem to be pointing towards the germ being a virus. to know for sure, sherman needs to see the germ under a microscope and determine its 3 - dimensional shape. which type of microscope should sherman use to try to see the 3 - dimensional shape of a virus in the patients sample? a light microscope b stereomicroscope c scanning electron microscope d transmission electron microscope

Explanation:

To determine the correct microscope, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Light microscopes have limited resolution and can't visualize viruses clearly, especially their 3D shape.
• Option B: Stereomicroscopes are for low - magnification, 3D viewing of larger objects, not suitable for viruses.
• Option C: Scanning electron microscopes (SEM) are used to view the surface and 3 - dimensional structure of specimens. Viruses are too small for light - based microscopes, and SEM can provide the 3D shape information needed.
• Option D: Transmission electron microscopes (TEM) are used to view the internal structure of specimens in 2D cross - sections, not for 3D shape of the whole virus.

Answer:

C. scanning electron microscope