Preparing and examining animal cells using a light microscope

Question 1

List the 7 steps to prepare the slide

Answer 1

1. Rinse mouth with water
2. Scrape inside of mouth with cotton swab or lollipop stick to gather cheek cells.
3. Spread smear onto a glass slide.
4. Add a few drops of methylene blue (this stains the nucleus dark blue and the cytoplasm pale blue) and leave for a few minutes.
5. Add a coverslip at an angle to eliminate air bubbles.
6. Blot of excess stain
7. In step 4, water can replace methylene blue and can be viewed unstained in this way.

Question 2

Why is methylene blue used to stain the animal cell?

Answer 2

this stains the nucleus dark blue and the cytoplasm pale blue