LAB 3 – Use of the Microscope

Introduction
In this laboratory you will be learning how to use one of the most important tools in
biology – the compound light microscope – to view a variety of specimens. You will
also use a slightly different type of light microscope called a stereoscopic dissecting
microscope.

The first lens used to magnify things was developed in the first century A.D. These were
pieces of glass shaped in a convex form – thicker in the middle and tapering off to the
sides – and were the first magnifying glasses that could increase the image of an object
about 10 – 20 X. The creation of glass lenses improved dramatically at the end of the 16 th
century, vastly improving the magnifying power. By 1609, Galileo Galilei refined the
methods of lens making in an effort to view objects in the sky.

About half a century later, the Dutchman Anton van Leeuwenhoek further improved the
art of lens making, allowing him to view objects in pond water that had never been
viewed by humans – microorganisms – life at a tiny level. At the same time, an English
physicist named Robert Hooke improved the technology of van Leeuwenhoek and
confirmed the existence of tiny organisms in pond water. He also famously examined a
piece of cork and observed tiny boxes arranged in such a way that they looked like the
“cells” (rooms) in a monastery if you removed the roof and looked in from above.

Today the best compound light microscopes are able to magnify objects up to 2,500X
without losing their resolution – the sharpness of the image itself.

Part 1: THE COMPOUND LIGHT MICROSCOPE

The Parts of the Compound Light Microscope

*Exercise 1A – Getting familiar with the microscope

You will first get acquainted with the major parts of the compound light microscope before
learning the proper way to use it. Get a microscope from the cabinet below your lab bench, being
sure to handle it by the arm and base (refer to image on page 2), and place it on the bench in front
of you. Remove the cover and place it below, out of the way, and then plug in the microscope.
The ocular lens (eyepiece) and stage should be facing you. Read the description of each part of
your microscope on the next two pages being sure to follow all instructions, and then complete
the matching exercise on your worksheet.

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OCULAR LENS (eyepiece) – Your microscope will have either one (monocular) or two
(binocular) ocular lenses. These are the lenses you will look through when examining a
specimen with the microscope. Take a look at the side of your ocular lens and you will notice a
label of “10X”. This indicates that each ocular lens magnifies the image by a factor of 10 or 10X.

OBJECTIVE LENSES – Notice the set of objective lenses on the revolving nosepiece. These
lenses allow you to change the degree of magnification. Some of our microscopes have four
objective lenses while others have only three. The degree of magnification for each objective lens
is indicated on its side. Let’s take a look at each progressing from the shortest to longest
objective lenses, being sure to rotate the revolving nosepiece to click each objective lens into
position above the stage before examining it:

4X – This objective magnifies the image by a factor of 4. It is referred to as the

“scanning objective” since it is used to scan the slide to locate the specimen
before viewing it at higher magnification. Your microscope may not have this
objective lens, in which case you can begin with the 10X objective.
10X – This objective magnifies the image by a factor of 10 and is referred to as the “low
power” objective.
43X (or 45X) – This objective magnifies the image by a factor of 43 (or 45) and is
referred to as the “high power” objective.
100X – This objective magnifies the image by a factor of 100. It is referred to as the
“oil immersion objective” since it requires a drop of immersion oil on the slide
to provide good resolution. You will not be using this objective lens.

For now, make sure that the low power objective is clicked into position above the stage, and
keep in mind that you will only be using the low power and high power objectives.
Also keep in mind that the total magnification of any image you see through the ocular lens is the
product of the objective and ocular lens magnifications (for example, when using the lower power
lens the total magnification is: 10X ocular x 10X low power objective = 100X).

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STAGE and STAGE CLIP – The stage is the flat surface upon which you will place each slide
you will examine. Notice that there is a moveable stage clip that can be used to secure the slide
on the stage. Open and close the stage clip to see how it will snugly hold your slide in position.

MECHANICAL STAGE KNOBS – To move the slide on the stage when it is secured in the
stage clip, you will use the mechanical stage knobs on the underside of the stage to move the
slide backward/forward and right/left. Adjust each knob to see how one knob controls
backward/forward movement and the other knob controls right/left movement.

COARSE FOCUS and FINE FOCUS KNOBS – In order for a specimen on a slide to be in
focus, the distance between the specimen and the objective lens must be just right. The coarse
focus knob, the larger of the two, will move the stage or objective lens (depending on the
microscope) up and down quickly and quite visibly, altering the distance between them. It is very
important that the coarse focus knob is only used with the low power or scanning objective
lenses, otherwise the microscope or objective lenses could be damaged. Adjust the coarse focus
knob to observe how quickly the focal distance changes. In contrast, the fine focus knob will
move the stage or objective lens such a small amount that it is hardly noticeable to the naked eye.
This is the knob you will use to get the perfect focal distance so the image will be crystal clear.

CONDENSER LENS – Just underneath the stage is the condenser lens. This lens serves to
capture and focus light from the lamp below onto the slide mounted on the stage. On many
microscopes the condenser lens can be adjusted up or down with a knob beneath the stage.
Examine the condenser on your microscope to see if it is adjustable. If so, be sure to adjust it as
high (close to the stage) as possible since, for our purposes, this is where it should be set.

DIAPHRAGM – The diaphragm is located within the condenser and is one of the most
important pieces of the microscope, though it is often neglected by many students. The diaphragm
allows you to adjust the amount of light passing through the slide by adjusting the diaphragm
lever. Most of the time the diaphragm will be all the way open to allow the maximum passage
of light. However it is important to adjust the diaphragm at times to reduce the amount of light
passing through your specimen should the image be too bright or dim, and also to increase the
contrast to allow you to see the specimen more easily against the background. For now, open the
diaphragm all the way, and when using the microscope, do not forget to use the diaphragm.

LAMP – The lamp emits light to illuminate the specimen so that you can actually see something.

BASE and ARM – The base is the bottom of the microscope that sits on the table, and the arm
is the vertical framework ascending from the base along the back of the microscope. When
handling the microscope always hold the arm while supporting the base with your other hand.

Proper Use of the Compound Light Microscope

*Exercise 1B – Steps to follow when using the microscope
If you really want to be able to see a specimen on a slide, you must follow the steps on the next
page every time you look at a new slide. The microscope will be your friend if you always use the
following steps in their proper order. Before you begin, be sure your microscope is plugged in
and the power is “on”. Before you start, clean all of the lenses with special lens paper which is
soft enough to not scratch the lens. Do not use anything else for this purpose (paper towel, shirt,
backpack…..) or you will scratch the lenses.

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Step 1. Get a slide of the letter “e” from the tray on the side counter. This an example of a
prepared slide, a slide that is already made for you and meant to be reused.
(i.e., don’t dispose of it, please return it to the tray when you are finished!)

Step 2. Use a piece of lens paper to clean any smudges (fingerprints, grease, etc.) off the slide.
Place the slide on a white piece of paper find the specimen (the letter “e”) on the slide
with your naked eye, noticing its location and orientation.

Step 3. Lock the low power objective lens into place (it should “snap” into place) if you have not
already done so. You will always (always, always, always………) start with either the
low power or scanning objective when you want to view a slide.

Step 4. Use the coarse focus knob to move the stage (or objective lens) so that they are as far
apart from each other as possible. Open the stage clip and place the slide snugly in the
corner of the stage clip (make sure the slide is completely flat) before releasing the clip
to hold the slide firmly in place. Then use the mechanical stage knobs to position the
slide so that the specimen (i.e., letter “e”) is centered over the condenser and the light
that passes through it.

Step 5. Next, using the coarse focus knob once again, move the slide and objective lens as close
together as the knob will allow.

(NOTE: To this point, you have not yet looked into the oculars. This may be surprising,
but this is the proper way to use a microscope so that you will actually see something!)

Step 6. Now, look into the ocular lens(es). Using the coarse focus knob, SLOWLY increase the
distance between the slide and objective until the specimen is in focus.
If the light is too intense, adjust the diaphragm lever (or dial near the lamp if present)
until the light level is comfortable before trying to locate the specimen.
If you have difficulty locating and focusing on your specimen (the letter “e”), make sure
that it is properly centered and you may need to adjust the course focus more slowly. If
you still can’t locate it, ask your instructor for assistance.

Step 7. Adjust the diaphragm lever so there is sufficient contrast between the specimen and the
background, closing it no more than is necessary. This step is especially important for
live specimens since you may not be able to see them otherwise.

Step 8. Now use the fine focus knob to get the specimen in proper focus. You should now be able
to see the object clearly. Before going to the next step (increasing the magnification), be
sure to center your specimen in the field of view as best you can.

Step 9. Now that you have centered and focused the object as best you can at low power, rotate
the high power objective into place over the slide being sure it “clicks” into position.
Use the fine focus knob (NOT the coarse focus) to bring the object into perfect focus.

(NOTE AGAIN: You should only use the coarse adjustment knob with the low power objective)

FOLLOW THESE STEPS EVERY TIME YOU WANT TO VIEW A NEW SLIDE
AND YOU WILL BECOME A GOOD MICROSCOPIST!

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 Part 2: PROPERTIES OF LIGHT MICROSCOPY
In this section we will focus on some of the key properties relating to light microscopy.
To help you understand each property you will first read an explanation and then do an
exercise to illustrate that particular property. Let us begin with the property of
magnification…

Total Magnification
The total magnification of an image is quite simple – it is the product of the ocular lens
magnification times the magnification of the objective lens you are using:

magnification of ocular x magnification of objective = total magnification

For example, if the ocular lens magnifies the image by a factor of 10 (10X), and the
objective lens magnifies the image by a factor of 50 (50X), the total magnification of the
image is 500X:

10X x 50X = 500X

Many students make the mistake of adding the two magnifications, so remember that
total magnification is the product (multiplication) of the ocular and objective lens
magnifications.

*Exercise 2A – Determining total magnification

On your worksheet, calculate the total magnifications for the examples given, then calculate the
total magnification when using each of the objective lenses on your own microscope.

Field of View (optional)

The field of view (FOV) is the actual “circle” you see when looking in the microscope.
Although this circular field of view appears to be the same no matter which objective lens
you are using, this is not the case. The circular area you are actually viewing will
decrease as you increase the magnification:

total magnification field of view

40X
100X
450X
1000X

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A good analogy is to imagine yourself viewing the Earth from space as you gradually
move closer and closer to Mission College. Initially your field of view is the entire
western hemisphere, but as you approach the Earth’s surface your field of view will
progressively shrink to encompass the western United States, Southern California, the
San Fernando Valley, Sylmar, etc. Although your field of view is shrinking, the image in
your field of view is becoming increasingly magnified. This is really no different than
looking into your microscope at increasing levels of magnification.

It is also useful to know the diameter of the field of view (FOV diameter) at a particular
magnification, since you can use this information to estimate the size of the specimen you
are viewing. The FOV diameter at low power for your microscope (100X) is ~1.8 mm.
Using this FOV diameter, you can calculate the FOV diameter at other magnifications.
This is done by multiplying by the ratio of the magnifications:

known FOV diameter x total mag. (known FOV) = unknown FOV diameter
total mag. (unknown FOV)

If you want to know the FOV diameter at 500X, you could calculate it as follows:

1.8 mm x 100X/500X = 1.8 mm x 1/5 = 0.36 mm = 360 m

Once you know the FOV diameter, you can estimate the dimensions of your specimen.
For example, assume you are viewing the specimen below at 500X total magnification
and, based on your calculation above, you know FOV diameter to be 360 m. It appears
that ~4 of your specimens would fit across the FOV end to end (i.e., length = 1/4 of
FOV), and ~10 side to side (i.e., width = 1/10 of FOV). Thus you would estimate the
dimensions of your specimen to be:

LENGTH = 1/4 x 360 m = 90 m

WIDTH = 1/10 x 360 m = 36 m

~90 m
360 m

~36 m

500X 500X 500X

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*Exercise 2B – Field of view and estimating size (optional)
Before you can estimate the size of a microscopic specimen, you must first determine the
diameter of the field of view at the magnification you are using. Once you have that information
you are prepared to estimate the size of any specimen you observe at that magnification:

1) Calculate the FOV diameter for each possible total magnification on your
microscope given the FOV diameter at low power (100X) is 1.8 mm.
2) Examine a prepared slide of Paramecium at low power and estimate the
length and width of a single Paramecium.
3) Examine a prepared slide of Euglena at high power and estimate the length
of a single Euglena.

Depth of Focus (optional)

Once you have a specimen in focus under the microscope, if you adjust the fine focus
knob up and down the specimen will come in and out of focus. Thus, there is a range in
the vertical dimension in which the specimen on your slide will appear in focus. The
“thickness” of the vertical range in which the specimen remains in focus is referred to as
the depth of focus. As it turns out, the depth of focus decreases as the magnification
increases as illustrated below:

total magnification depth of focus

40X
100X
450X
1000X

To make sure this concept is clear, imagine the range in which you can adjust the
distance between the objective lens and the slide (via the focus knobs) to be a loaf of
bread standing on end. The image produced in your microscope will only be in focus if
the objective lens is positioned within a particular slice of that loaf of bread. This slice of
bread is the depth of focus, and it will get thinner as you increase the magnification.

This property of microscopy becomes very noticeable if the specimen you are examining
is actually thicker than the depth of focus at the magnification you are currently using.
For example, if the depth of focus is only 1 m thick and the specimen you are observing
is 2 m thick, there will always be a portion of the specimen outside the depth of focus.
This portion will thus be out of focus and cause the image to appear blurry no matter how
carefully you adjust the fine focus knob.

observed specimen magnification depth of focus image

high power blurry
low power focused

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In this example, the image will look blurry when viewed at high power magnification no
matter what you do. To get a focused image in this case you will have to increase the
depth of focus and thus lower the magnification.

To help you understand and appreciate the concept of depth of focus, complete the
exercises that follow:

*Exercise 2C – Depth of focus in the vertical dimension (optional)

Obtain prepared slides of Paramecium and “colored threads” and observe them as follows:

1) Observe a single Paramecium at low power (100X) and then at high power (430X or
450X), and answer the corresponding questions on your worksheet.
2) Examine the colored thread slide at low power (100X), and determine the vertical
order (top to bottom) of the three colored threads as you slowly adjust the focus up
and down through the threads.

Part 3: A MICROSCOPIC VIEW OF CELLS

Review of Cell Structure

All living organisms consist of one or more cells and come in a tremendous variety.
There are single-celled prokaryotic organisms such as the bacteria, single-celled
eukaryotic organisms such as the protozoa (e.g, Paramecium) and yeasts (a type of
fungus), and multicellular eukaryotes such as most fungi (e.g., molds, mushrooms) and
all members of the plant and animal kingdoms. Before you examine cells from some of
these organisms, let’s review some of the general features of our three basic cell types:

Prokaryotic Cell

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Notice that a prokaryotic cell does not have any distinct internal compartments. This
does not mean that prokaryotic cells have no internal organization, they simply do not
have any structures we refer to as organelles. In contrast, animal and plant cells contain
a variety of organelles. Take a moment to review the functions of the various cell
structures and organelles shown and then complete the next exercise on your worksheet:

STRUCTURE/ORGANELLE FUNCTION

plasma membrane barrier between inside/outside of cell

cell wall extracellular structure that protects and supports cell
capsule protective gelatinous outer layer of some prokaryotes
flagellum large cellular extension used for motility
nucleus organelle containing the genetic material (DNA)
endoplasmic reticulum synthesis of lipids, proteins in “secretory pathway”
Golgi apparatus modification, sorting of “secretory pathway” proteins
mitochondria organelle in which cellular respiration occurs
chloroplast organelle in which photosynthesis occurs
central vacuole storage of water and other materials in plant cells
centrioles structures involved in animal cell division
ribosomes small structures that carry out protein synthesis

*Exercise 3A – Review of cellular structures and organelles

1) Fill in the correct labels for each cell diagram on your worksheet.
2) Complete the matching exercise on your worksheet relating each cell structure and
organelle with its function in cells.
3) Fill in the chart on your worksheet indicating which structures and organelles are found
in which cell types.

Now that you are well acquainted with the structures and organelles found in cells, you
will use your microscope to observe cells of organisms in most of the major groupings.
The most comprehensive groupings are the domains, of which there are three: the
Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya.

All species in the domains Bacteria and Archaea are single-celled prokaryotes. Until
recently, the bacteria and archaea were grouped into a single kingdom called Monera.
However, research in the last few decades has revealed that these organisms, though
similar in microscopic appearance, are vastly different in DNA sequence and physiology.
As a result they are now placed into entirely different domains. The domain Eukarya
consists of all eukaryotes – i.e., organisms made of cells with a nucleus and other
organelles. Within the domain Eukarya are the four traditional kingdoms still in use:
Protista, Fungi, Plantae and Animalia.

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Let us now take a look at cells from organisms in these major groups.

Bacteria
By far the most abundant organisms on our planet are the single-celled prokaryotes
known as the bacteria and archaea. Since archaea are very difficult to culture in a
laboratory setting, the only prokaryotes you will observe are bacteria. You will observe
two species of bacteria, one having a round or coccus shape and the other having a rod or
bacillus shape. Since bacteria are much smaller than eukaryotic cells, you will need to
observe them at 1000X under the oil immersion lens in order to see them clearly.

*Exercise 3B – Examining bacteria

Slides showing two distinct types of bacteria have been set up on the side counters. The bacteria
are not alive and have been stained different colors to add contrast and help you distinguish
between the two types.

1) There should be two distinct types of bacteria on your slide. Draw a sample of each type
of bacteria on your worksheet and answer the corresponding questions.

Protozoa
The kingdom Protista consists of two general types of eukaryotic organisms: the
protozoa and the algae. The protozoa (literally “before animals”) are single-celled
eukaryotes that have “animal-like” qualities, whereas the algae are photosynthetic
organisms that do not have the features of true plants. In the next exercise, you will
observe a variety of live protozoa as you learn how to prepare your own wet mounts of
these organisms:

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*Exercise 3C – Examining protozoa
You will prepare three different wet mounts of live protozoa as outlined below: Paramecium
(view at low power), Euglena (view at high power) and a sample of pond water or hay infusion
(low or high power). The protozoa you will see can move quite fast under the microscope, so
prepare each wet mount as follows to ensure that they are slowed enough for you to view them:

1) Place one drop of “protoslo” on a clean glass slide (this will help slow the critters down!)
2) Using a transfer pipet, add one drop of sample (from the bottom of the container) to the
protoslo and slowly add a cover slip over the sample, laying it down gently at an angle.
3) Mount the slide on your microscope and prepare to view the slide at low power.
4) To help you find the level of focus for the protozoa you want to examine, focus on either
a bubble or the edge of the cover slip.
5) Close the diaphragm lever almost all the way to increase the contrast, and locate a
specimen. Unless you do this, there will not be enough contrast to see any specimens.

Yeast
The kingdom Fungi includes multicellular fungi such as molds and mushrooms, as well
as single-celled fungi which are collectively known as the yeasts. Yeasts are immensely
important to humanity. They are essential for producing certain foods and beverages
(e.g., bread, beer, wine, chocolate), and have allowed scientists to effectively study the
nature of eukaryotic cells and to produce commercial medicines such as insulin for
diabetics. In the next exercise you will look at the species of yeast commonly referred to
as “baker’s yeast” or “brewer’s yeast”: Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

*Exercise 3D – Examining yeast

Your instructor will set up a wet mount of live yeast to be viewed at 1000X at your table. The
dye methylene blue will be added to provide contrast between the yeast and the background.

1) Examine the slide for live yeast, which should look like “golden eggs” on a bluish
background. You may also see some dead yeast cells which will be dark blue. Draw a
few of the live yeast cells on your worksheet and identify the nucleus in each.

Plant Cells
The kingdom Plantae includes organisms such as mosses and ferns as well as the
familiar cone-bearing plants (Gymnosperms) and flowering plants (Angiosperms). All
plants are multicellular and sustain themselves by the process of photosynthesis. Most
plants have distinct organs and tissues consisting of different cell types. Despite their
differences, most plant cells have the same basic structures as illustrated on page 9. For
the next exercise, you will observe live plant cells in a leaf from the aquatic plant Elodea:

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*Exercise 3E – Examining plant cells
Prepare and observe your own wet mount of a leaf from the aquatic plant Elodea as instructed
below, and answering the corresponding questions on your worksheet:

1) At the front of the lab, obtain a clean glass slide and place a drop of water on it.
2) Using a pair of tweezers, break off a single Elodea leaf and place it in the drop of water
on the slide, making sure it is as flattened out as possible.
3) Obtain a single glass cover slip and placing it at angle next to the leaf, gently and slowly
lay it down over the leaf at an angle until it lies flat on top of it.
4) Observe the leaf at low power and draw a sample of what you see on your worksheet.
5) Observe the leaf at high power and draw several cells including whatever organelles you
can see. Be sure the label the nucleus, chloroplasts, central vacuole, and cell wall.

Animal Cells
All species in the kingdom Animalia are multicellular, consisting of a wide variety of
organs, tissues and cell types. Like the protists, fungi and plants, animals belong to the
domain Eukarya since their cells have a nucleus and other organelles as shown in the
diagram on page 9. The animal cells you will observe today will actually be your own
(Yes, you are a member of the kingdom Animalia!).

*Exercise 3F – Examining animal cells

Prepare a wet mount of your own cheek cells as described below, and answer the corresponding
questions on your worksheet. Since your cheek cells are transparent, you will add the dye
methylene blue to provide contrast between your cells and the background.

1) At the front of the lab, obtain a clean glass slide and place one drop of water and one drop
of the dye methylene blue on the slide.
2) Obtain a toothpick and gently rub one end of it on its side along the inside of your cheek.
3) Place the end of the toothpick that made contact with your cheek in the mixture of
methylene blue and water on the slide, and move it around to transfer some cheek cells.
4) Discard the toothpick in the biohazard bag, and gently place a cover slip over the slide as
you did before.
5) Observe your cheek cells at low and high power and draw samples of cheek cells you see
at each magnification, being sure to identify the cell nucleus.

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Part 4: THE STEREOSCOPIC DISSECTING MICROSCOPE

Up until now you have been exclusively using a compound light microscope. While it is
ideal for viewing tiny microbes that can be mounted on a slide, there are biological
specimens that are too large and/or thick to be mounted on a slide and viewed with the
compound microscope (yet too small for the naked eye). In this case you will want to use
the stereoscopic dissecting microscope or “dissecting microscope” for short. Two
advantages of this microscope are 1) you can manipulate your specimen (turn, flip,
dissect) using your hands or tools while viewing it under magnification (hence term
“dissecting”), and 2) by looking through both oculars you can see the image in three
dimensions (“stereoscopic”).

The dissecting microscope is a simple light microscope since the image you see is
magnified through a single magnification lens. Your microscope has two such lenses that
you can switch between, allowing you to view your specimen at 15X or 30X. While the
total magnifications possible on this microscope are low, they provide the advantages of a
very large field of view and a very thick depth of focus. This will allow you to see most,
if not all, of your specimen clearly and in three dimensions.

Your dissecting microscope contains a single focus knob and two different light sources
controlled by knobs on either side of the arm of your microscope. Turn them on and you
will notice that one light source is below the stage and the other is above the stage. The
light below the stage produces light that will pass through a transparent specimen, what
we call transmitted light. The light above the stage produces light that will bounce or
reflect off the specimen. We refer to this as reflected light, which is used to illuminate a
non-transparent specimen from above.

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You will first examine some 3-dimensional biological objects to get used to using the
dissecting microscope, and then you will examine some samples of the fruit fly
Drosophila. Drosophila has been an incredibly valuable organism for over a century in
the study of genetic inheritance and embryological development.

*Exercise 4 – Using the stereoscopic dissecting microscope

Examine the samples indicated below, and as you do so, adjust the lighting to give you the best
image, and answer the corresponding questions on your worksheet.

1) Examine the letter “e” slide at 30X, noting its orientation viewed with the microscope
relative to your naked eye.
2) To become more familiar with viewing specimens under the dissecting microscope,
examine the objects provided on your bench at both 15X and 30X with transmitted and/or
reflected light.
3) Using the tweezers provided, carefully and very gently place one Drosophila fruit fly
from each container onto the stage, and note the eye color of each fly (optional).

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LABORATORY 3 WORKSHEET Name __________________

Section__________________
Exercise 1A – Parts of the compound microscope
Write the correct label for each part of the microscope shown below:

Exercise 1B – Using the compound microscope

Match each part of the compound microscope on the left with its function on the right:

____ base and arm A. eyepiece, what you look in to see an image
____ coarse focus knob B. adjusts position of slide left/right, front/back
____ condenser lens C. used to bring the image into sharp focus
____ diaphragm D. flat surface on which slide is placed
____ fine focus knob E. secures slide in place before viewing
____ high power objective lens F. focuses light from the lamp on the slide
____ lamp G. used only with the low power objective
____ low power objective lens H. used to handle the microscope properly
____ mechanical stage knobs I. adjusts the amount of light passing through slide
____ ocular lens J. used when you first examine a slide
____ stage K. light source used to illuminate specimen
____ stage clip L. used to produce a more magnified image

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Exercise 1B – Using the microscope
Answer the following questions as you work through this exercise:
How is the letter “e” on the slide oriented when you see it with the naked eye as you mount it on the stage
(i.e., is it right side up or upside down)?

How is the letter “e” on the slide oriented when you see it under low or high power magnification?

What effect, if any, does the compound light microscope have on the orientation of the image?

Exercise 2A – Total Magnification

Fill in the charts below. For your actual microscope, you will find the magnifications of the ocular and
objective lenses printed on the side of each lens. If your microscope does not have a scanning objective
lens, leave that line blank.

SAMPLES YOUR MICROSCOPE

ocular lens objective lens total ocular lens objective objective lens total
magnification magnification magnification magnification lens name magnification magnification
5X 50X scanning

5X 100X low power

10X 50X high power

20X 20X oil

immersion

Exercise 2B (optional) – Field of View and Estimation of Size

Calculate the diameter of the field of view for each total magnification on your microscope in millimeters
(mm) and then convert this value to micrometers (m):

Scanning (40X): 1.8 mm x 100X/40X = _______ mm = ________m

Low power (100X): FOV diameter = 1.8 mm = ________ m

High power (______X): 1.8 mm x 100X/_____X = _______ mm = ________m

Oil immersion (1000X): 1.8 mm x 100X/1000X = _______ mm = ________m

Draw and estimate the length of a single Euglena (high power) and Paramecium (low power):
Paramecium Euglena

total magn. ______ total magn. ______

FOV diam. _____ m FOV diam. ____ m

length _______ m length _______ m

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Exercise 2C (optional) – Depth of Focus
Answer the following questions as you complete this exercise:
Describe the clarity of images of Paramecium at low power vs high power.

Explain why the image at high power was less clear than at low power (assuming that’s the case).

Indicate the order of colored threads on your slide from top to bottom.

Exercise 3A – Cell Structure

Label each structure for the plant and animal cell diagrams below:

Match each cell structure/organelle on the left with its function on the right:
____ nucleus A. modification, sorting of proteins
____ endoplasmic reticulum B. where cellular respiration occurs
____ Golgi apparatus C. gelatinous outer layer of prokaryotic cells
____ mitochondrion D. small structure that carries out protein synthesis
____ chloroplast E. projection used for motility
____ plasma membrane F. synthesis of lipids, secretory pathway proteins
____ cell wall G. stores water and other materials in plant cells
____ capsule H. contains the genetic material (DNA)
____ flagellum I. where photosynthesis occurs
____ ribosome J. provides external support/structure in some cells
____ centriole K. barrier between inside/outside of cell
____ central vacuole L. plays an important role in cell division

Place a check mark or “X” indicating a structure/organelle is present in the indicated cell type:
CELL endoplasmic Golgi central plasma cell
TYPE nucleus reticulum apparatus mitochondrion chloroplast vacuole membrane wall capsule
bacteria
plant
animal

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Exercise 3B – Bacteria
Draw samples of each of the two types of bacterial cells seen in the microscope, and be sure your drawing
represents the arrangement of cells as well as cell shape.

Describe the arrangement of the round bacteria (cocci) relative to each

other.

Describe the arrangement of the rod-shaped bacteria (bacilli) relative to

each other.

total magnification 1000X

Exercise 3C – Protozoa
Draw samples of live Paramecium and Euglena as seen in the microscope

Euglena Paramecium

total magn. _______ total magn. _______

Exercise 3D – Yeast
Draw samples of yeast cells seen in the microscope, and be sure to identify and label the cell nucleus.

total magnification 1000X

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Exercise 3E – Plant Cells
Draw Elodea cells at low and high power and estimate the length and width of a typical Elodea cell at high
power:

Elodea (low power) Elodea (high power)

total magnification ______ total magnification ______

Exercise 3F – Animal Cells

Draw several cheek cells at low and high power and estimate the length of a typical cheek cell at high
power:

Cheek cells (low power) Cheek cells (high power)

total magnification ______ total magnification ______

Exercise 4 – Dissecting Microscope

Answer the following questions:

How is the letter “e” oriented when viewed in the dissecting microscope relative to your naked eye?

How does this compare to the compound microscope?

OPTIONAL: Draw a sample of an object as seen under the dissecting microscope.

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