Required Practical: Microscopy Flashcards
All 6 cards in this deck
What are the steps to prepare a slide of plant cells to view with a light microscope?
e.g. a piece of onion epidermis- Peel a thin layer and place it on a slide in a drop of water
- Add a drop of iodine stain
- Lower a cover slip at an angle with a mounted needle, then view using the lowest power objective first
Why is a stain such as iodine solution added when preparing a slide of cells?
To make the cells and their sub-cellular structures, such as the nucleus, visible.
Why is the cover slip lowered onto the specimen at an angle?
To prevent or reduce air bubbles under the cover slip.
Why must a thin layer of tissue be used on a microscope slide?
So light can pass through it and individual cells can be seen.
What must be included in a scientific drawing of cells seen under the microscope?
Clear continuous unshaded lines, labels of the cell parts, and a magnification or scale.
True or false? You should focus a light microscope using the highest power objective lens first.
False. Start with the lowest power objective to find and focus the cells, then move to a higher power.