Gelbolingo, John Angel A. Exercise 2.

1 – The Microscope

Exercise 2 – The Microscope and Other Laboratory

Instruments and Equipment

OBJECTIVES
After completing the exercise, the student will be able to:
- Illustrate and identify the parts of a compound microscope and its function;
- Demonstrate the correct use of the compound microscope;
- Demonstrate the correct method of preparing microscope slides; and
- Identify other laboratory instruments and equipment and their purpose.

Exercise 2.1 – The Microscope

MATERIALS
- Coloring materials
- Microscope
- Cotton
- Microscope slides
- Dropper
- Toothpick
- Methylene blue
- Lab gown
- Writing materials
- Water
- Letter ‘e’
- Scissors
Gelbolingo, John Angel A. Exercise 2.1 – The Microscope

PROCEDURE
A. Labeling

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Gelbolingo, John Angel A. Exercise 2.1 – The Microscope

B. The microscope and its function

1. Magnification
A. The magnification written on the ocular lens (eyepiece) is 10x
B. The magnification on the:
Scanning objective 4x
Low Power Objective 10x
High Power Objective 40x

C. What is the total magnification for each lens? (multiply scanning x the
objective)
Scanning 40x
Low Power 100x
High Power 400x

2. Diaphragm
Examine the diaphragm, determine how to change the amount of light that passes
through your viewing field. Diaphragms on microscopes can be different depending
on the model. Describe how the diaphragm works.

The diaphragm on a microscope is a circular disk with a series of holes or slots that
can be adjusted to control the amount of light that passes through the viewing field.
By rotating the diaphragm, you can increase or decrease the amount of light that
enters the microscope, which can help you see your specimen more clearly. The
diaphragm works by blocking some of the light that enters the microscope, which
can help to reduce glare and improve contrast. Different microscopes may have
different types of diaphragms, such as iris diaphragms or disk diaphragms, but they
all serve the same basic function of controlling the amount of light that enters the
microscope. To change the amount of light that passes through your viewing field,
simply adjust the diaphragm until you achieve the desired level of brightness and
clarity.

3. Viewing the E Slide

Preparation:
1. Place a cut out letter ‘e’ on a glass side (microscope slide) so as to look like (e).
2. Cover it with a clean cover slip. See the figure below.

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Gelbolingo, John Angel A. Exercise 2.1 – The Microscope

● Focus the slide "e" slide first with the scanning objective.
● Click to lower power and focus again, recenter your specimen.
● Finally, focus the slide under high power. At high power, you should ONLY
use the fine adjustment knob to bring your specimen back into focus. You
may also need to recenter.

Draw the E exactly as it appears in your viewing field for each magnification. The
circles below represent your viewing field. The E should take up as much space
in the drawing as it does in your viewing field while you're looking at it.

Scanning Low Power High Power

Does the lens of the microscope reverse the image? No

Does it flip the image? (upside down) No

B. Preparing a Dry Mount Slide

1. Choose a specimen (e.g. a strand of hair, dust, cotton)
2. Place your specimen in the middle of a clean, dry slide
3. Get a cover slip and hold it by its edges and gently place it on your specimen
4. Place and view your specimen under the microscope

SPECIMEN: HAIR

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Gelbolingo, John Angel A. Exercise 2.1 – The Microscope

Scanning Low Power High Power

Magnification Magnification Magnification

X10 x40 x400

4. Preparing a Wet Mount Slide

A. Cotton
1. Gather a few strands of cotton from a cotton ball using forceps.
2. Place ONE drop of water directly over the specimen.
3. Place the coverslip at about a 45-degree angle with one edge touching the water
drop and then gently let go. Performed correctly the coverslip will perfectly fall over
the specimen and will not have air bubbles.

Draw the specimen as it appears in your viewing field under scanning, low and high
power.

Scanning Low Power High Power

Magnification Magnification Magnification

X10 x40 x400

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Gelbolingo, John Angel A. Exercise 2.1 – The Microscope

Q1. Define and identify the significance of a wet mount and a dry mount.
In a wet mount, a drop of liquid (usually water) is used to suspend the specimen
between the slide and cover slip. This technique is used to view living organisms or
specimens in a liquid medium, such as pond water, cheek cells, blood, or sperm
samples. It allows for the observation of natural movements and structures of the
specimen.
Dry mount, on the other hand, a dry mount involves placing a non-moisture-based
specimen directly onto a glass microscope slide and using a coverslip to protect the
specimen. This technique is suitable for viewing dry specimens such as insect legs,
flower petals, powders, or substances like sand or dry chemicals. Dry mounts are
permanent and do not involve the use of a liquid medium.
The significance of wet and dry mounts lies in their different applications: wet mounts
are ideal for observing living organisms and dynamic processes, while dry mounts
are suitable for studying non-living specimens and structures that do not require
moisture. Both techniques are fundamental in microscopy for different types of
observations and experiments.

Q2. What is the value of mounting a specimen on a slide?

It is important for a successful observation of tiny details of specimens under the
microscope that we can’t see with our eyes alone. It helps scientists, professionals,
and students study the structure and characteristics of different things and
organisms, such as cells, blood, sperm, and the like. Mounting can also help in
preserving the samples or specimens when you want to look at them after or if you
want to share them with others. Covering the specimen with slide cover is used to
flatten the specimen samples in even thickness and protecting it from mircroscope’s
objective lens.

B. Observing Blood

BACKGROUND

Human blood appears to be a red liquid to the naked eye, but under a microscope
we can see that it contains four distinct elements:
● plasma
● red blood cells;
● white blood cells; and
● platelets

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Gelbolingo, John Angel A. Exercise 2.1 – The Microscope

Plasma is the liquid component of your blood that contributes to 55% of your
blood's total volume. The heme in the red blood cells gives blood its red color. White
blood cells are interspersed in the sea of red blood cells and help fight infection. The
platelets are fragments of red blood cells and function in clotting.

PROCEDURE
1. Disinfect your finger with alcohol.
2. Poke your little finger quickly and lightly using a lancet. Squeeze your finger
and place a drop of blood on a slide and cover with the coverslip.
3. Place the slide on the microscope stage, and bring into focus on low power.
Adjust lighting and then switch into high power.
4. You should see hundreds of tiny red blood cells; there are billions circulating
throughout our blood stream. Red blood cells contain no nucleus, which
means they can't divide. Red blood cells are constantly produced by the bone
marrow and the spleen. You should also be able to find a few white blood
cells. They are slightly larger than red blood cells, and have a nucleus. They
resemble an amoeba and can contort their body in any way they like. White
blood cells fight infection by consuming foreign bodies. The platelets are
fragments of red blood cells and are very small.

Blood
X40

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Gelbolingo, John Angel A. Exercise 2.1 – The Microscope

Q1. What is the purpose of a blood test?

Blood test is done to help see and understand how your blood is doing inside. It tests for
things like infections, anemia, and the like. Blood tests can also show if you have too much
sugar or cholesterol in your blood, which can be harmful if not seen and noticed early.
Additionally, blood tests can provide information about your blood cell counts, and blood
testing is also used to monitor overall health and the effects of medications on the body.

Q2. What biomarkers are important to be observed in a blood test? Why?

In a blood test, important biomarkers to look for include glucose, which shows if you have
diabetes or not. Cholesterol levels are checked because too much can lead to heart
problems. White blood cells are important because they help fight off infections in your
body. Red blood cells carry oxygen, so their levels are checked to see if you're getting
enough oxygen. Platelets are also checked to make sure your blood can clot properly when
you get a cut. By looking at these biomarkers, doctors can understand your health and help
keep you well.

Q3. In some cases, blood typing is necessary. What determines the blood type of an
individual?

An individual's blood type is determined by specific proteins called antigens present on the
surface of red blood cells and antibodies in the blood plasma. There are four main blood
types: A, B, AB, and O. The presence or absence of antigens A and B, as well as the Rh factor
(another antigen), determine a person's blood type. Additionally, the presence or absence of
the Rh factor determines whether a blood type is positive (+) or negative (-). For example,
someone with blood type A (+) it has A antigens on their red blood cells and the presence of
Rh factor in their red blood cells, while someone with blood type B (-) has B antigens and the
absence of rh factor in their red blood cells. Then in blood type AB has both A and B antigens,
while blood type O has neither.
Q4. What is the importance of blood typing?

The importance of blood typing is not just to know and identify your blood type but also
has significance to ensure safe blood transfusions in emergency situations just like
donating for someone who has excessive blood loss, with the help of blood typing we can
identify what specific blood type is needed and necessary to donate and what is not
applicable to donate. Also, blood typing can assist performing in maternity or paternity
testing by knowing the blood type or analyzing the blood group of the child and
mother/father.

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