Given their 100-150 nm diameter, what microscopy technique can be used to visualise nuclear pores?Group of answer choicesTEMConfocal microscopyDICPhase Contrast

Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) would be the most suitable technique to visualise nuclear pores of 100-150 nm diameter. This is because TEM has a high resolution that can go down to the level of a single nanometer, making it possible to see these small structures.

Here's a step-by-step explanation:

1. Sample Preparation: The first step in TEM is the preparation of the sample. This involves fixing, dehydrating, and embedding the sample in a resin. The sample is then cut into ultra-thin sections (around 60-90 nm thick) using an ultramicrotome.

2. Staining: The thin sections are then stained with heavy metals that deflect electrons, such as lead or uranium. This increases the contrast of the sample, making the nuclear pores more visible.

3. Imaging: The stained sample is placed in the TEM, and a beam of electrons is passed through the sample. The electrons that pass through the sample hit a fluorescent screen, creating an image.

4. Analysis: The resulting image can be analyzed to visualize the nuclear pores. The heavy metals used in staining will have deflected the electrons, creating dark areas that represent the nuclear pores.

The other microscopy techniques mentioned (Confocal microscopy, DIC, Phase Contrast) do not have the necessary resolution to clearly visualize structures as small as 100-150 nm.