1. Microscopy: "Seeing is Believing"
David Kuch
Lakenheath High School
December 2014

2. Overview Studying cell structure Why is Microscopy Important?
Parts of Microscope
Use of Microscope
Microscopy Experiments

3. Robert Hooke's vision (1667): “By the help of microscopes, there is nothing so small, as to escape our inquiry”
Started as “flea glasses”
Could observe details of small objects
First use of the word “cells”
Valuable biological tool

4. Why is the microscope important?

5. Microbiological Advances New ability to view life—improved understanding of the complexity of life
Improved understanding of plants
Plant anatomy
Improved understanding of animals
Cells
Disease control
Medical advances
Circulation of blood (1669)
Animalcules “aka” bacteria (1676)

6. Science Emerged and Life Improved “Magnified phenomena that are too small to be seen with the naked eye”
Disease control and treatment
Genetics
Agricultural improvements
Veterinary advances

8. Microscope Part Function How do I use this thing?
Eyepiece
Lens looked through to see specimen; 10X-15X power; adjustable
Body tube
Connects the eyepiece to lenses
Arm
Connects body tube to microscope base
Nosepiece
Rotating turret with objective lenses; spin to select desired lense
Objective lenses
Most important microscope part; 3-5 lenses; 4X to 100X power
Stage
Flat platform where slide is placed
Stage clips
Metal clips that hold slide in place
Coarse adjustment
Brings specimen into general focus
Fine adjustment
Fine tunes focus and increases the detail
Illumination
Light source (reflective mirrors, low-voltage bulb
Iris diaphragm
Adjusts light amount on specimen
Condenser
Gathers and focuses light from the illuminator onto specimen
On/off switch
turns the illuminator off and on
Base
supports the microscope and it’s where illuminator is located

9. Microscope Use Still trying to use this thing?
Set your microscope on flat surface and plug in
Switch on your microscope's light and adjust diaphragm
Rotate nosepiece to the lowest-power objective (10X)
Place slide on stage and move specimen under objective
Adjust large coarse focus knob until specimen is in focus
Adjust small fine focus knob until specimen is focused
Adjust diaphragm to get best lighting
Scan slide (at low power to get overview of specimen)
Rotate nosepiece to 40X and then 100X; refocus carefully

10. Safety Reminders Microscopes are expensive scientific instruments
When moving your microscope, always carry it with both hands
Careful with objectives
Handle them properly/carefully so they will last for many years

12. Experiment 1: Observing Things Around You

13. Experiment 2: Gram Stain
Procedure:
Concept:
Result:

14. Summary
What did you learn/improve?
Successes and/or Challenges