Microscopy for Microbiology - Use and Function
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Lab Report Assistant
This document is not meant to be a substitute for a formal laboratory report. The Lab Report Assistant is simply a summary of the experiment’s questions, diagrams if needed, and data tables that should be addressed in a formal lab report. The intent is to facilitate students’ writing of lab reports by providing this information in an editable file which can be sent to an instructor.
Exercise 1: Getting to Know your Compound Microscope
Data Table 1. Microscope Components.
Letter
Component Name
Component Function
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
Data Table 2. Total Magnification.
Lens
Ocular Magnification
Objective Magnification
Total Magnification
Scanning
Low Power
High Power
Oil Immersion
Data Table 3. Field of View.
Lens
Total Magnification
Field of View (mm)
Field of View (µM)
Scanning
Low Power
High Power
Oil Immersion
Data Table 4. Letter e Viewing Results.
Lens
Photograph
Observations
Scanning
Low
High
Oil Immersion
Questions
A. Describe the details in the slides "Letter e" that become visible as the power changed from scanning power, to low power, to high power.
B. Why is it important to calculate the diameter of the field when first using the microscope?
Exercise 2: Viewing Prepared Microbe Slides
Data Table 5. Prepared Slide Viewing Results.
Slide
Photograph
Total Magnification
Amoeba
Penicillium
Yeast
Spirillium
Bacillus
Coccus
Questions
A. Using the field of view calculated in Exercise 1 for the high power lens, approximately how far across are each of the cells in the Bacteria Coccus Form slide in Data Table 5? Show your calculations.
B. Detail techniques you found helpful for focusing on the various slides in this exercise.
Exercise 3: Preparing Wet-Mount Slides
Data Table 6. Wet-Mount Viewing Results.
Slide
Photograph
Total Magnification
Cheek Cell Smear
Dental Tatar Smear
Questions
A. Describe the similarities and differences between the cheek cell wet mount and dental plaque wet mount.
B. How did the process of preparing wet-mount slides become easier as you prepared the second wet-mount slide of this exercise?