Light Microscopy I: Dissection and Microtechnique

THE microscope is one of the primary tools of the cell biologist. In this first section we set forth a number of approaches that can be used to study maize using the stereo, compound, light, and epifluorescence microscopes. Successful cellular analysis is dependent on three factors: proper specimen preparation, careful use of the instrument, and appropriate observation techniques. Furthermore, any cellular analysis must be conducted within the context of the whole organism; hence, we begin in Part I by describing methods of dissection and observation using the whole plant. Then we present several methods of specimen preparation. Standard methods of observation using transmitted light and epifluorescence microscopy and for recording and analyzing the image are presented in part II.