October 14, 2016

Honor Code: On my honor, i have neither received nor given any unauthorized
aid on this assignment.

Using Compound Microscopes

Group:
Holly, Charice, Alice, Lala and Janet

INTRODUCTION:
According to Vision engineering, during the 1590', Zaccharias Janssen and his father
Hans started experimenting with these lenses. They put several lenses in a tube and
made a very important discovery. The object near the end of the tube appeared to be
greatly enlarged, much larger than any simple magnifying glass could achieve.

A compound microscope can be used to observe or analyze microscopic objects

or organisms that is too small for the naked human eye to accurately
observe. Compound microscopes differ from common light microscopes and
stereoscopes in their design and function. Its usually found in science lab. There are
many several type of microscopes.
According to National Microscope Exchange, Optical Microscopes: Optical
microscope uses visible light to sharply magnify the samples.
Compound Microscope: The compound microscope is built of two systems of
lenses for greater magnification.
Stereo Microscope: They are useful for observing opaque objects.
Confocal Laser scanning microscope: Confocal Laser scanning microscopes
are reserved for research organizations. They are able to scan a sample also in depth.
Electron Microscopes: the most advanced microscopes used in modern science.
The electron microscopes essentially function on the principle of a beam of electrons
that strikes any objects that comes to its path to magnify it.
Scanning Electron Microscope: is characterized as a microscope that has lower
magnifying power but can provide 3 dimensional viewing of objects.
Reflection electron microscopes: also designed on the principle of electron
beams but they are characteristically different from transmission and scanning.
X-ray Microscope: uses a beam of x-rays to create an unparalleled high
resolution 3D image.
Scanning Helium Ion Microscope: is a new imaging technology which uses a
beam of Helium ions beams to generate an image.

Scanning acoustic microscope (SAM): uses focused sound waves to generate an

image
Neutron Microscope: These microscopes are still in an experimental stage.
Scanning Probe Microscopes: helps visualize individual atoms
MATERIALS:

Compound microscope, Glass slides, Cover slips, Onion, Onion root, Yogurt
(diluted), Yogurt (undiluted), Methylene blue, Cheek, Toothpicks, Gloves,
Pipette, Distilled water, Fire, Oil (to build fire)

PROCEDURE:
Cheek Cells:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Put on the gloves. (Because we use methylene blue)

Take a toothpick and take the cheek inside your mouth for 5 seconds.
Put the cheek cell on the glass slide.
Wait for the cheek to dry in 3 minutes.
Hold the slide over the fire for 3 to 4 times
Then, use the pipette to drop methylene blue on the cheek cell slide and put on
the coverslip.
7. Use distilled water to clean up if the methylene blue mess outside.
8. Put the slide on the microscopes stage.
9. Use the 4x objective first and move the stage in different directions to find the
cells. Use fine adjustment knob to see the cells clearly.
10. Then use the magnification of 10x.
11. Take pictures and observe of each magnification.
Onion Cells:
1. Use a small knife and cut a very slight piece of onion to fit between the glass
slide and the coverslip.
2. Put the piece onto the glass slide and add the coverslip.
3. Place the onion slide on the compound microscopes stage and use the stage
clip to hold the slide.
4. First, use the magnification of 4x,to focus on the onion.
5. Move the slide slowly until you see the slide of onion. Use the fine adjustment
knob to focus the area.
6. Use the magnification of 10x.
7. Take pictures and observe of each magnification.

Onion Root:
1. Take a small knife and cut a slight piece of onion root.
2. Put on the glass slide and coverslip on the top.

3. Place the slide on the stage of compound microscope and hold the slide in
place by the stage clip.
4. Use the 4x objective to focus on the onion root slide.
5. Move the stage in different directions to see the onion root.
6. Use the fine adjustment knob to focus on the onion root.
7. Use with 10x objective.
8. Take pictures and observe of each magnification.

Yogurt (diluted):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Put on the gloves.(because we use methylene blue)

Dip a toothpick into the yogurt and take a small amount.
Spread it on the glass slide and wait for 3 minutes for the yogurt to dry.
Hold the slide over the fire for 3 to 4 times.
Use the pipette to put the methylene blue on the sample.
Take the coverslip and put on the slide. (Use distilled water to clean up if the
methylene blue mess outside)
7. Put the slide on the microscope stage.
8. Start with 4x objective, use different knobs to move the stage until you see the
cells and use the fine adjustment knob to see it clearer.
9. Then use with 10x objective.
10. Take pictures and observe of each magnification.

Yogurt (undiluted):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

First, we put on the gloves.

Take a toothpick and dip it in the yogurt.
Take out a small amount and spread it on the glass slide.
Wait for 3 minutes to dry and put it over the fire 3 to 4 times.
Drop the methylene blue on the sample with a pipette and place the cover slip
on top of the sample. (Use distilled water to clean up if the methylene blue
mess outside)
6. Put the slide on the compound microscopes stage and hold it in place by the
stage clip.
7. Use 4x objective and slowly move the stage until you see the cells.
8. Use fine adjustment knob to see the cells clearly.
9. Use with 10x objective.
10. Take pictures and observe.
Data & Result:

Yogurt (Diluted):

In 4x objective, i think its the same as the pic of using 10x objective, but its a
reduction.
In 10x objective, it looks like blue crystal.
Our team cannot see anything in 40x and 100x objectives.

- Diluted Yogurt (4x objective)

- Diluted Yogurt (10x objective)

Yogurt (Undiluted):
In 4x objective, I can see many black scratch line.
Our team cannot see anything in 10x, 40x, and 100x objectives.

- Undiluted Yogurt (4x objective)

Onion Cells:
In 4x objective, I see purple color and it looks like a slender net. It has many
square bricks inside.
In 10x objective, it also looks like a plexus with brown color. And I see clearly
there are many square bricks stacking together.

- Onion Cells (4x objective)

- Onion Cells (10x objective)

Cheek Cells:
In 4x objective, I see many little blue dots, which is nucleus.
In 10x objective, I can clearly see the dark blue nucleus.
Our team cannot see anything in 40x and 100x objectives.

- Cheek Cells (4x objective)

- Cheek Cells (10x objective)

Onion Root:
In 4x objective, I see green and clear color. It has many thin cross lines and some
dots. I really like this pic, it looks like a map.
In 10x objective, the onion root is the same as its in 4x objecctive.

- Onion Root (4x objective)

DISCUSSION:
Online Microscopic Pictures:

- Onion Root (10x objective)

-Onion cells. (Source: Google)

According to Reference, the cells of an onion have organelles or components that
include membrane walls, nuclei and cytoplasm. A plant cell also has a cell wall and a
large vacuole. The function of a vacuole is to store fluid and solid materials. The cell
wall is made up of cellulose.

-Onion root cells. (Source: Google image)

Quoting vlab.amrita.edu, An onion root tip is a rapidly growing part of the
onion and thus many cells will be in different stages of mitosis. The onion root tips
can be prepared and squashed in a way that allows them to be flattened on a
microscopic slide, so that the chromosomes of individual cells can be observed easily.
The super coiled chromosomes during different stages of mitosis present in the onion
root tip cells can be visualized by treating with DNA specific stains, like Feulgen
stain and Acetocarmine stain (Mitosis In Onion Root Tips).

According to Livestrong.com, yogurt contains microscopic bacteria which are

good for human health, these are known as probiotics. Those are lactobacillus,
bifidobacterium, and streptococcus thermophilus.

- Lactobacillus

- streptococcus thermophilus.

- bifidobacterium

Compare:
-

My microscopic picture of onion cells has the similar bricks, which is the cell
wall. My picture cannot see the nucleus and cytoplasm.
My picture of onion root is totally different from the online picture. The online
picture has many rectangle bricks with dots inside it.
My picture of cheek cells has the nucleus just like the online picture. But my
picture does not have the smaller dots around the nucleus and the bigger dot
that contain the nucleus inside.
My picture of yogurt (diluted and undiluted) is totally different from the online
picture. My picture does not have any of yogurts bacteria (lactobacillus,
bifidobacterium, or streptococcus thermophilus).

Over this experiment, I have learn how to use compound microscope. I learned that
we should prepare lab safety equipment before doing experiment. Ive learn that if we
use the 100x objective, we must put oil on the slide to see correctly. I also know how
to report my work. My team work together on the lab experience, we work very hard.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS:
According to enotes, Methylene blue is a lab stain and is used for many different
types of cells. In the case of the human cheek cell and yogurt slides, methylene blue
causes the DNA in the nucleus to stand out so that the nucleus can clearly been seen
in a light microscope (What is the Purpose of Adding Methylene Blue to a
Specimen?).
We must wear gloves while working with methylene blue.
According to Yahoo answer, The normal microscope you are using makes use of light
to enable you to view the specimens. Light becomes refracted when it passes through
the glass, at 100x magnification, if the oil is not used, it wouldn't reach to your
viewing eyepiece. So the oil are using to help the refracted light get to your viewing
eyepiece so that you can view your speciments at the magnification.
Drop a little amount of oil on the cover slip, and turn to 100x objective. While using
100x objective, we only use the fine adjustment knob and turn it very slow and look at
it carefully until you see the image.

Works Cited

History of the Microscope. Microscope History: Find out about the History of
Microscope,
http://www.visioneng.com/resources/history-of-the-microscope.

Different Types of Microscopes and Their Uses. National Microscope Blog, 3 Oct.
2016,
http://blog.nationalmicroscope.com/different-types-of-microscopes-and-their-use
s/.

What Is the Shape of an Onion Cell? Reference,

https://www.reference.com/science/shape-onion-cell-a9ff34133b4fcb5b.

Objectives: Mitosis in Onion Root Tips (Theory) : Cell Biology Virtual Lab II :
Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering : Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Virtual
Lab,
http://vlab.amrita.edu/?sub=3&brch=188&sim=1102&cnt=1

List of Good Bacteria in Yogurt. LIVESTRONG.COM, LIVESTRONG.COM, 9

June 2015,
http://www.livestrong.com/article/349067-list-of-good-bacteria-in-yogurt/.

What Is The Purpose Of Adding Methylene Blue To The Specimen. Enotes.com,

Enotes.com,
http://www.enotes.com/homework-help/want-ask-about-methylene-blue-what-p
urpose-using-347231

What Is the Function of Using Oil under 100x Objective? Yahoo! Answers, Yahoo!,
https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080826203001aa6pndu.