Biology 9700 · AS & A Level · The microscope in cell studies

The microscope in cell studies — practice question

Before recently, the viruses most commonly recognised by scientists had sizes of $20\text{-}150\,\text{nm}$. The Mimivirus was discovered in 2003 and had a size of approximately $680\,\text{nm}$. The Pandoravirus was discovered in 2013 and has a size of over $1000\,\text{nm}$. Which of these viruses can be observed with a light microscope that has a maximum resolution of $0.25\,\mu\text{m}$, and which require an electron microscope?

  • Atypical virus: can be seen; Mimivirus: can be seen; Pandoravirus: can be seen
  • Btypical virus: cannot be seen; Mimivirus: can be seen; Pandoravirus: can be seen
  • Ctypical virus: cannot be seen; Mimivirus: cannot be seen; Pandoravirus: can be seen
  • Dtypical virus: cannot be seen; Mimivirus: cannot be seen; Pandoravirus: cannot be seen

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