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?