Living cells are usually examined with the dark field microscope.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only with dead cells
• D. Sometimes

Answer: (B)

Dark-field microscopy provides high-contrast visualization of transparent, living specimens by collecting only light scattered by them, which makes motile or finely structured cells stand out against a dark background. This is excellent for observing live cells without staining, especially when they are very translucent. But in regular laboratory practice, living cells are not usually examined with dark-field; phase-contrast or differential interference contrast are more commonly used to view living cells because they reveal internal details without staining, and bright-field is used when staining is involved. Dark-field remains a specialized tool for specific cases, such as certain motile bacteria or delicate organisms, rather than the standard method for examining living cells.