Observing epithelial cheek cells under a microscope Virtual Lab

Julianne Tamucci

21 Oct 202109:28

Summary

TLDRThis instructional video demonstrates the process of creating a wet mount slide of human cheek cells for microscopic observation. It guides viewers through cleaning a slide and cover slip, collecting cheek cells with a toothpick, staining them with bromothymol blue, and preparing the slide. The tutorial continues with using a microscope to focus and adjust the view to observe the stained cells and their organelles, particularly the nucleus, in detail.

Takeaways

🔬 **Preparation**: Clean slides and cover slips with a wipe before starting.
🦠 **Cell Collection**: Use a toothpick rubbed on the inside of the cheek to collect cheek cells.
💧 **Staining**: Apply bromothymol blue as a stain to visualize cells.
📌 **Slide Making**: Transfer cells from the toothpick to the slide and add a drop of water.
🔬 **Cover Slip**: Place the cover slip at a 45-degree angle to avoid air bubbles.
🔭 **Microscope Setup**: Turn on the microscope and adjust the stage clips to hold the slide.
🔍 **Focusing**: Use the coarse adjustment knob to bring the cells into focus initially.
📏 **Zooming**: Switch to a higher objective lens and use the fine focus knob for detailed focusing.
🌐 **Cell Identification**: Look for cells with clear nuclei to observe organelles.
📱 **Enhanced Viewing**: Use a smartphone to capture and zoom in on the cells for a closer look.
🔄 **Adjust Contrast**: Adjust the diaphragm to change contrast and enhance cell visibility.

Q & A

What materials are needed to prepare a slide with cheek cells?
-To prepare a slide with cheek cells, you will need a toothpick, water, a cleaning wipe, a slide, and a cover slip.
How should you clean the slide and cover slip before use?
-You should use a cleaning wipe to gently wipe off both the slide and cover slip to ensure they are clean and free of debris.
How do you obtain cheek cells for the slide?
-To obtain cheek cells, you gently rub the rounded edge of a toothpick on the inside of your cheek to collect loose cells.
What is the purpose of using bromothymol blue in the process?
-Bromothymol blue is used as a stain to make the cheek cells visible under the microscope by coloring them blue.
How should you apply the bromothymol blue to the slide?
-After collecting the cheek cells on the toothpick, you wipe the toothpick on the slide, then add a drop of bromothymol blue and a drop of water.
What is the correct way to place the cover slip on the slide?
-Hold the cover slip at a 45-degree angle and slowly lower it onto the slide to create a wet mount.
How do you focus the microscope to view the cheek cells?
-Start by using the coarse adjustment knob to bring the image into focus, then switch to the fine focus knob for precise focusing.
What is the significance of the blue color in the cells after staining?
-The blue color indicates the presence of bromothymol blue, which helps in visualizing the cells and makes certain organelles, such as the nucleus, stand out more.
Why might you see air bubbles under the microscope?
-Air bubbles can form if there is uneven pressure or if the cover slip was not placed correctly, which can affect the quality of the observation.
How do you adjust the microscope to view different cells?
-You can move the slide around to view different areas and use the fine focus knob to adjust the focus on specific cells.
What is the role of the diaphragm in observing cheek cells?
-The diaphragm can be adjusted to change the contrast of the image, which may help in distinguishing the cells and their structures more clearly.

Outlines

00:00

🔬 Preparing a Cheek Cell Slide

This paragraph describes the process of preparing a slide with cheek cells for microscopic examination. The narrator instructs on cleaning a slide and cover slip using a cleaning wipe, as they are made of glass and require careful handling. A toothpick is used to gently rub the inside of the cheek to collect cells, avoiding any stabbing motion. The collected cells are then transferred onto the slide. Bromothymol blue is used as a staining agent to make the cells visible. A small drop is added to the slide, followed by a drop of water. The cover slip is carefully placed over the slide at a 45-degree angle to create a wet mount slide. The slide is then examined under a microscope, starting with a coarse focus to bring the image into view, then switching to a fine focus to observe the stained cells. The bromothymol blue staining causes the cells, particularly the nucleus, to appear blue, enhancing visibility.

05:01

🔍 Observing Cheek Cells Under the Microscope

The second paragraph details the steps to observe cheek cells under a microscope. The process begins with turning on the microscope and placing the prepared slide under the stage clips. The coarse adjustment knob is used to bring the image into focus. The narrator then discusses selecting a specific area of cells to examine, focusing on cells with a clear nucleus. The microscope's objective lens is changed to a higher magnification, and the fine focus knob is adjusted to bring the cells into sharp focus. The diaphragm is mentioned as a way to change contrast, although it doesn't significantly affect the visibility of the cells in this case. The paragraph also touches on the three-dimensional nature of the cells, allowing for focusing on different layers. The use of a smartphone to capture and further magnify the image is also described, highlighting the visibility of the cell membrane and nucleus at higher magnifications.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡cheek cells

Cheek cells refer to the cells that make up the inner lining of the cheek. In the context of the video, cheek cells are the subject of the experiment where they are collected and observed under a microscope. The script describes the process of collecting these cells using a toothpick rubbed on the inside of the cheek.

💡toothpick

A toothpick is a small, thin, pointed stick typically used for removing food debris from between teeth. In the video, a toothpick is used to gently scrape the inside of the cheek to collect cheek cells for the preparation of a slide.

💡slide

A slide in microscopy refers to a glass or plastic substrate on which a specimen is mounted for examination under a microscope. The script describes cleaning a slide and placing the collected cheek cells on it as part of preparing a wet mount.

💡cover slip

A cover slip is a small, thin, square piece of glass used to cover a specimen on a slide to protect it and reduce the risk of drying out or contamination. In the video, a cover slip is cleaned and used to cover the cheek cells on the slide.

💡bromothymol blue

Bromothymol blue is a pH indicator used as a stain in biological experiments to visualize cells. In the video, bromothymol blue is added to the slide to stain the cheek cells, making them more visible under the microscope.

💡wet mount

A wet mount is a type of biological slide preparation where the specimen is placed in a drop of liquid, then covered with a cover slip. The script describes creating a wet mount of cheek cells with a drop of bromothymol blue and water.

💡microscope

A microscope is an optical instrument used to magnify small objects or details that are otherwise invisible to the naked eye. The video script details the process of observing cheek cells under a microscope, from setting up the slide to adjusting the focus.

💡coarse adjustment knob

The coarse adjustment knob on a microscope is used for making larger adjustments to the focus, bringing the specimen into a rough focus before fine-tuning. The script mentions using this knob to bring the cheek cells into initial view.

💡fine focus knob

The fine focus knob is used for making small, precise adjustments to the focus on a microscope. In the video, it is used after the coarse adjustment to sharpen the image of the cheek cells.

💡organelles

Organelles are specialized subunit structures within cells that perform specific functions. The video script mentions that the bromothymol blue stain helps to visualize organelles, particularly the nucleus, within the cheek cells.

💡nucleus

The nucleus is a membrane-bound organelle found in eukaryotic cells that contains the cell's genetic material. In the video, the nucleus is highlighted as an organelle that stands out after staining with bromothymol blue.

Highlights

Preparation of a slide with cheek cells requires a toothpick, water, a cleaning wipe, a slide, and a cover slip.

Cleaning the slide and cover slip with a wipe is essential before making the slide.

Using the rounded edge of a toothpick to gently rub against the inside of the cheek to collect cells.

Bromothymol blue is used as a staining agent to make cells visible under the microscope.

Transferring cheek cells from the toothpick to the slide using a gentle wiping motion.

Adding a drop of bromothymol blue and water to the slide to prepare the sample.

Placing the cover slip at a 45-degree angle to create a wet mount slide of cheek cells.

Using a microscope to observe the prepared cheek cell slide.

Adjusting the microscope's coarse focus knob to bring the cells into view.

Selecting a specific area of cells to focus on under the microscope.

The use of bromothymol blue staining makes organelles, particularly the nucleus, more visible.

Dealing with air bubbles when observing the slide under the microscope.

Switching to a higher objective lens to magnify the cells further.

Using the fine focus knob to adjust the focus for a clearer view of the cells.

Adjusting the diaphragm to change contrast and improve cell visibility.

Observing the three-dimensional nature of cells and zooming in on different layers.

Using a smartphone to capture and further magnify the image of the cells.

Final observation of the nucleus and other organelles within the cheek cells.