Final answer:
A microscope slide and cover slip are used to hold and protect the specimen during examination under a microscope. They ensure the specimen is in the same focal plane and improve image clarity. Coverslips also protect the objective lens and specimen from contamination.
Step-by-step explanation:
You would use a microscope slide and cover slip to examine a specimen under a microscope for several reasons. First, the slide provides a flat, stable surface to hold the specimen.
This flatness is crucial for keeping the specimen in the same focal plane when using high magnification. The cover slip serves to flatten any specimens that might not lie completely flat and protects the specimen from contamination and drying out.
Additionally, it also prevents the objective lens from coming into contact with the specimen. Coverslips are essential because they provide a uniform thickness, creating an even spread of light across the sample which improves image clarity.
Microscopy is a vital technique because cells vary in size and are generally too small to be observed with the eye.
Special stains and fluorochromes can be used to enhance contrast and enable visualization of cellular components under different types of microscopes, such as fluorescence microscopes.
Fluorochromes are used in fluorescence microscopy to detect specific components of a specimen, as they can bind to particular molecules and emit light at different wavelengths when illuminated with specific colors of light.