Module 2: Lab 2 Introduction to Microscopy using Eukaryotic Organisms

Microscopy is the scientific technique to observe objects that are too small to be seen by the naked eye. Microscopes are the tools that magnify (the process of enlarging the appearance of an object) and resolve (distinguishing two points as being separate) the minute structures such as cells, bacteria, protozoa, and their contents.

An object must measure about 100 micrometers (µm) to be visible to an average human eye without a microscope. Typical animal cells measure roughly 10 µm across but are still microscopic (require a microscope to be visible). Protists, while diverse in size, generally range from 5 micrometers to 2-3 millimeters in length, Bacterial cells are typically about 1 µm, and viruses can be 10 times smaller than bacteria.

In this course, you will learn the skill of using light microscopy to identify microorganisms (too minute to see by the naked eye but visible through microscopy). You may be required to prepare wet mount slides using an environmental sample such as cultured pond water to identify eukaryotic microorganisms. Your institution may present you with prepared dry-mount slides to study the pathogenic (disease-causing) microorganisms in humans. (Image: Parts of a Microscope (english).png by Thebiologyprimer, Wikimedia Commons is in the Public Domain.)

To achieve these objectives: [Edit these items to match your resources and activities.]

1. Read the Module 2 Introduction
2. Read Chapter Lab 2 in Lab 2: Introduction to Microscopy Using Eukaryotic Organisms – Medical Microbiology for Nursing and Allied Health Lab Manual.
3. Complete the Module 2 assignment and Module 2 discussion forum. 

Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities

You will find the following resources and activities in this module at the Pressbooks website. Click on the links below to access or complete each item.