Investigating Plant Cells Using a Light Microscope

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Investigating Plant Cells Using a Light Microscope: Lab Report
Introduction
With the advancement in light microscopy as one of the biological techniques used in studying cells, it is possible to investigate the structure of plant and animal cells. Plant cells represent an example of eukaryotic cells and plant scientists have gained significant insights into modern cell biology through simple light microscopic imaging. This technique has made it possible for scientists to match different resolutions to varying sizes of subcellular structures and mark cell organelles, proteins, and other cell structures for imaging. Besides, light imaging is nonperturbing and this implies that it is possible to image cells for an extended duration and study their dynamics (Thorn 219). The purpose of the experiment is to investigate plant cells using a simple light microscope by revealing the structures and cell biology.
Requirements
1 Onion (sample)
2 Light microscope
3 Glass slide
4 Coverslip
5 Water
6 Methylene blue stain
7 Dropper
Procedure
1 A drop of water is added to a glass slide
2 The inner side of the onion is gently peeled and applied on one drop of water on a glass slide.
3 The edge of a coverslip is gently placed on top of the sample placed on a glass slide so that it touches the edge of the water. The coverslip is slowly lowered to prevent forming and trapping any air bubbles.
4 The prepared sample is placed under a microscope
5 With the illuminator turned on, the slide is placed on the stage with the sample directly above the aperture and fastened to the stage using stage clips.
6 To allow a maximum amount of light to reach the slide and lenses, the iris diaphragm is completely left open.
7 The nosepiece is rotated so that the objective lens with the lowest magnification is directly above the sample.
8 Looking through the binocular eyepieces, the iris diaphragm is adjusted until the amount of light is sufficient.
9 The fine adjustment knob is turned until the specimen comes into sharp focus ensuring that the viewer can rotate the nosepiece to a higher resolution and bring the sample into clear detail with a reduced amount of refocusi...