Groundwork Preparation for Wet Mounts Essay Example for Free

Groundwork Preparation for Wet Mounts Essay Through processes know as wet mounts and simple stains, observing living microorganisms through a compound microscope can generate a clearer understanding of their appearances and movements. Microorganisms are living things that for the most part cannot be seen through the naked eye. They live on and among humans, as well as plants, animals, and all that is a part of the Earth. Harmless as most seem to be to humans, microorganisms are an important relevance of study for human interest in varied perplexities and can dictate a human lifes progress or deterioration; thus the significance to humans is vital (Talaro 6). The discovery of the microscope introduced a new branch of science called microbiology. The microscope, a major instrument in this realm of study makes it possible to observe, acknowledge, and clarify implications of meaning to the study of organisms. In preparing for two basic observations, a wet mount and a simple stain, living microorganisms can be seen clearer through a simple stain and by using a drop of water, movements of microorganisms are varied. A smear is when a spreading of bacteria is made on a slide for viewing. A simple stain is when a method of observation of a living organism is smeared on a slide with one stain during a procedure. A wet mount is where a research method of an organism or organisms is placed on a slide with fluid. The microorganisms can then move freely. On the laboratory research completed January 30, 2006 using a wet mount example and a simple stain instruction the following items were used to obtain the visibility of microorganisms moving through slides using two kinds of avenues. The first was a wet mount. The following items and instructions were used to obtain optimum examination of organisms: 1.) Add one drop dH20 on center of slide. 2.) Dip wireloop in pond water. 3.) Smear wireloop sample on slide. 4.) Place cover slip over smear. 5.) Observe slide under 4x, 10x, and 40x. Results At 40x: The bacteria is an algae type of species. One reason would be is to differentiate between true mobility of an organism and a Brownian movement which is considered a movement caused of the moles  while the liquid is thumping an entity or causing the entity to tremble or recoil. When this slide was viewed on a 4x and 10x under microscope small bacteria could be seen as several dots but at 40x, those dots became one huge light brown bacterium that had still several smaller bacteria inside of it. The objective for the wet mount examination and the simple stain slide observation is to determine size, shape, arrangement, and mobility of cells. The reasoning the two materials are to determine what happens when dye instead of water is used in determining the size and shape of bacteria (Granato 4). The usage of oil immersion magnifies this process. The example of the pond water for the wet mount sample lets the examinee see bacterium that has lived in H20 for a certain amount of time whereas the SA plate is in a gel-like substance. The methods applied for a simple stain using an SA plate to examine the bacteria in it were the following: 1.) drop of dh20, 2.) Take sample from SA plate 3.) Heat fixate. Cool slide afterwards, 4.) Add one drop of Methxylene Blue for 30 seconds, 5. Wash smear gently w/dH20 from the slide, 6.) Remove excess water, and 7.) Observe under 4x, 10x, 40x, and then 100x with oil immersion. Results at 100x: Under oil immersion the specimens are easily seen as varied and elongated. The extension from one to another is quite extensive. Although while viewing the specimen during the simple staining process, I wasnt sure what type of bacteria it was. The fact Methxylene Blue was added instead of just H20 and of course adding the oil because it was magnified at 100x, the specimen were numerous in size and shape. The pond water algae seemed lifeless and didnt move either by themselves nor because water had hit them. The implication and significance of these two processes of examination are vital to experience a step forward in the world of studying microorganisms. What was viewed during these examination places an actual visual understanding about life not seen by the naked eye. The experience unknown to me demonstrates a passage which will now emphasize a greater  understanding of the world of microbes. Works Cited Granato, Paul A., Helen Eckel Mizer, and Josefine A. Morello. Laboratory ManualAnd Workbook in Microbiology: Applications to Patient Care. New York:McGraw Publishing. 2006. 5th Edition. Talaro, Kathleen Park. Foundations in Microbiology: Basic Principles. New York:McGraw Publishing. 2005. 5th Edition.