This study guide is
intended to provide a way to see and study the microscope slides
that you first viewed in laboratory. It is not intended as a replacement
for lab, or for your textbook or lab manuals. All the microscope
slides are slightly different, manufactured by 2-3 companies and
may even be stained differently. Compound this with the cleanliness
of slide and scope, and the magnification of the microscope that
you used (and the skill of the user) and you may find yourself
looking at something very different than what you saw in lab -
your instructor however will expect you to know and recognize
these organisms in your weekly lab practicals. Use this guide
to make sure that you and your instructor are viewing the same
thing (the pictures you see are actual slides from your lab).
The 106L microscopes have 4x (40 times actual size magnification),
10x (100 times actual) and 45x (450 times actual) objectives -
You should always start in Low Power (4x) when placing or viewing
a specimen under the microscope, and, once in focus, switch to
the next highest objective lens (without moving the stage). Slides
shown here are shown at the best possible magnification - the
one at which you can see the most detail.
Remember that Genus
and species named must be underlined.
"A Guide to Biology
Laboratory" by Rust
is a required book for this lab, but remember that the taxonomy
is outdated (Use your lab manual (Knowles) for taxonomy). It is
also a good resource to use in your studying, and the microscope
slides are labeled - and very similar to what you saw in lab (though
in black and white). This page includes the slides from our lab,
some of which are in Rust and some of which are not.
