The Microscope

TY Biology
 Lesson Objectives
identify, and understand the functions of the main
parts of a light microscope and use it to examine
an animal cell and a plant cell.
prepare a slide from plant tissue and sketch the
cells under magnification.
Lab Microscope
The Egyptians were the first to
use clear crystals to magnify
small objects

The first eye spectacles were

invented during the 13th century and
the term lens was introduced names
after lentils because of their shape.
Van Leeuwenhoek perfected the structure of
lenses and is excepted as the inventor of the
microscope

In his experiments he described Bacteria, yeast and

blood cells.
1665 Robert Hooke coins the term cell in his work
macrophagia. The cells in cork oak tissue reminded
him of a monks cell.
 Investigation
Preparing a specimen of onion cells to view under
a light microscope
All living things are made up of units called CELLS.
Cells are made up of three main parts
Cytoplasm is a jelly like substance.
Cell Membrane is a thin skin surrounding the cytoplasm.
Nucleus controls the activities of the cell and
determines how and when the cell divides.

In this investigation we will stain and examine

onion tissue and observe under a microscope
 Preparing Slides
In preparing a wet mount, it is important to
notes the following points:
Place a drop of water on the slide first.
Choose the thinnest possible piece of tissue.
Take care when adding the cover slide; lower
gently using a support.
Circular cover slides are safer than square
ones.
Preparing Tissue for viewing under the
microscope
 Cell Stains
There are a number of different stains which
can be used when observing cells, these include
Iodine
A stains for plant cells making cell wall and nucleus more visible.
Methylene Blue
A stain for animal cells and makes the nucleus more visible.
Leishmanns Stain
A stain for blood cells .
 Drawing Cells
Best results will be achieved if you:
Use a pencil mistakes can be erased, and
the pencil can be used for shading the
drawing.
Draw objects inside a circular outline this
replicates the field of view.
Labels should be outside the circle.
Labels should include specimen name,
magnification, stain if used, and major
features.
 Example

ONION CELL Cell Wall

Specimen clearly drawn in pencil

Cytoplasm

Nucleus

Stained with Iodine

Magnification x 100
 Onion Cells

onion epidermis cells 100 onion epidermis cells 100

unstained stained with iodine