Virtual Microscope by Bionetwork

http://www.ncbionetwork.org/iet/microscope/

Instructions:  You can use the “learn” tab to familiarize yourself with the virtual microscope.  Click on the “explore” tab to examine specimens.   Your sketches should be drawn as you see them in the field of view.  Use the adjustments to get a clear image.

Sample Slides - Letter E

1. Sketch the view at each magnification

2. What do you need to do before viewing the slide at 100x?

3.A common mistake for beginners is thinking that the “e” just disappears at high magnification.  How would you explain to a younger student what happened to the e as you increase the magnification?

Plant Cells

4. Sketch the view at each magnification

5. Label the Drawings.   On the 40x view, center the cell, tiny green dots are visible.  These are chloroplasts.  Label them on your drawing.   You can also see a large, darker circle at this view.  That is the nucleus.  Label it on your drawing.

Human Blood

6. Sketch the blood cells at each magnification.

7. At 100x, you will see a cell that is larger and has a dark shape in it.  This cell doesn’t look like the others because it is a white blood cell and it functions to protect your body against microbes.  Red blood cells do not have a nucleus.   White blood cell count is used as a diagnostic tool to determine if someone is sick.   If you were fighting an infection, would you expect to have more or less WBC’s?   Why?

Synthesis and Discussion

8. Compare blood cells to plant cells, including details about color, general shape, and size.     Write this as a complete sentence or paragraph. 

---

Other Microscope Resources

Introduction to the Microscope – E Lab – explore how to use a light microscope (Letter E Slides)

Microscope Investigation for AP Biology – refresher on how to use a microscope and how to measure viewing field

Cheek Cell Lab –   observe cheek cells under the microscope

Observing Plant Cells  –  microscope observation of onion and elodea