REQUIRED PRACTICAL 5 - DISSECTION

Question 1

what is the purpose of this practical

Answer 1

to gain a complete understanding of internal biological functions

Question 2

what organs can be dissected

Answer 2

• heart
• fish gills
• insect respiratory system
• lungs

Question 3

what is the equipment needed for this practical

Answer 3

• scalpel
• scissors
• tweezers
• pins
• dissection board
• newspaper/paper towels
• biological specimen (ex, heart)

Question 4

what are the potential risks for this practical

Answer 4

• biohazards
• disinfectant
• sharp tools

Question 5

what is the risk regarding biohazards

Answer 5

contamination

Question 6

what is the safety precaution regarding the biohazards

Answer 6

• use disinfectant
• keep the sample on the dissection board
• wash hands with soap after the dissection

Question 7

what is the risk regarding disinfectant

Answer 7

flammable

Question 8

what is the safety precaution regarding disinfectant

Answer 8

keep away from a naked flame

Question 9

what is the risk regarding sharp tools

Answer 9

cuts from sharp objects

Question 10

what is the safety precaution regarding sharp tools

Answer 10

• cut away from fingers
• use forceps to hold tissue whilst cutting
• keep away from the edge of the desk

Question 11

what are ethical considerations when dissecting animals

Answer 11

• morally wrong to kill animals just for dissection, could be resolved by using already humanely killed (for meat) animals for dissection

Question 12

describe how you could prepare a temporary mount of a piece of plan tissue for observation with an optical microscope

Answer 12

• add a drop of water to a glass slide
• obtain a thin section of specimen and place it on the slide
• stain it, ex with iodine/potassium iodide to view starch
• lower coverslip at an angle using a mounted needle without trapping air bubbles