Prescribed practical B1 - Making slides
A slide is a thin piece of glass used to hold objects which are examined under a microscope.
Most slides will already be made up for you. If you do get the chance to prepare your own slide, here’s what to do:
Plant cells
- Peel a thin, transparent layer of Protective outer layer of skin however, in this instance, it is a single layer of cells found inside an onion. cells from the inside of an onion.
- Place cells on a microscope slide.
- Add a drop of water or iodine (a chemical stain).
- Lower a coverslip onto the onion cells using forceps or a mounted needle. This needs to be done gently to prevent trapping air bubbles.
Animal cells
- Remove cells from the inside of your cheek using a cotton bud.
- Smear the cotton bud onto a microscope slide.
- Add a drop of methylene blue (a chemical stain).
- Lower a Small, square of glass placed on top of a specimen to prevent the cells drying out and to protect the microscope lens should it have contact with the slide. onto the cheek cells using forceps or a mounted needle. This needs to be done gently to prevent trapping air bubbles.
Chemical stains are used to make some cell parts more obvious.
Image caption, Animal cells
Cheek cells
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