- Pond water and plant life take on a whole new meaning under the microscope.a water-lily grwoing in the pond image by alri from Fotolia.com
Virtually every high school and college biology laboratory contains a microscope, with many displaying the binocular variety. According to the Biology Department at Bates College, the uses for the binocular microscope are many and various, including examining cells from the inside of the student's mouth. The department also recommends placing plants and food found at the college under the lens, so the student can gain insight to his environment and food choices. Further choices involve insects and pond water. All of these uses are to acquaint the student with the workings of the microscope. - That same type binocular microscope used at Bates College can be used at home for individual scientific study or for home school children. Parents and children can recreate scientific experiments with the microscope as part of home schooling. Having a smaller version of the college microscope can provide endless opportunities for viewing flowers, plants, insects and other items located around the typical home. Children can exam leaves from different trees and plants and compare the tissue structure, all while learning to identify the leaves by their scientific names.
- In this setting, binocular microscopes are used in the laboratory to examine tissues and cell samples, taken from patients for a variety of purposes related to their medical treatment. Often the purpose relates to the detection of cancerous cells. According to an article in jobs4U, using the microscope to examine tissues taken from cervical screenings is a major part of the job for biological scientists at some hospitals. Each slide must be reviewed under the same binocular microscope by two individuals to verify the results.
- A standard use of the binocular microscope, or any microscope for that matter, involves scientific research. That research occurs at colleges and universities, medical facilities and research labs. All depend on the magnification abilities of the microscope to further their work. According to NASA, binocular microscopes provide one tool in the examination and analysis of planetary materials. This research focuses of the identification of various elements in the materials. It is conducted in a sanitary environment to eliminate any contamination that would impact the results.
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