Light microscope practical preparing slide

Question 1

What do stains do and what stain for what cell

Answer 1

The common specimens to observe under a light microscope are cheek cells (animal cells) and onion cells (plant cells)

Stains are used to highlight structures by adding colour within cells – methylene blue is used to stain cheek cells, iodine for onion cells

Question 2

What do you use to cut the onion into layers of epidermal tissue

Answer 2

Use tweezers to pull off some epidermal tissue from the bottom of one of layers

Question 3

Why do you add water to the middle of a slide

Answer 3

In a wet mount, the specimen is suspended in a drop of liquid

Question 4

How do you place a cover slip over the slide

Answer 4

Stand cover slip upright on the slide next to water droplet. Then carefully tilt and lower so it covers specimen

Question 5

Why do you add a cover slip and what do you have to be careful when you add it

Answer 5

to hold the specimen in place and protect it from contamination

Make sure there are no air bubbles as this could obstruct your view