8

Biotechnology Activity Sheet

Quarter 1 - MELC 9
Week 8
Preparation of Biological Specimen

REGION VI –WESTERN VISAYAS

Biotechnology
Activity Sheet No. 8- Preparation of Biological Specimen
First Edition, 2021

Published in the Philippines

By the Department of Education
Region 6 -- Western Visayas

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This Learning Activity Sheet is developed by DepEd Region 6 – Western

Visayas.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this learning resource may be

reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or
mechanical without written permission from the DepEd Regional Office 6 –
Western Visayas.
Development Team of Biotechnology Activity Sheet

Writer: Ruby Ann Dahay- Angelino

Editor: Daisy L. Lopez
Carmel Joy P. Aujero
Layout Artists: Jerry R. Bagiuos
Schools Division Quality Assurance Team:
Ma. Cristina G. Caballero
Reynaldo A. Sumaylo
Lovenia D. Pansaon
Daisy L. Lopez
Carmel Joy P. Aujero
Division of Silay City Management Team:
Novelyn M. Vilchez
Luz U Banson
Federico P. Pillon Jr.
Daisy L. Lopez
Carmel Joy P. Aujero
Regional Management Team:
Ramir B. Uytico
Pedro T. Escobar, Jr
Elena P. Gonzaga
Donald T. Genine
Rovel R. Salcedo
Moonyeen C. Rivera
Anita S. Gubalane
Minda L. Soldevilla
Daisy L. Lopez
Joseph M. Pagalaran

Introductory Message:
Introductory Message:
Welcome to Biotechnology!

This Learning Activity Sheet is a product of the collaborative efforts of

the Schools Division of Silay City and DepEd Regional Office VI- Western
Visayas through the Curriculum Learning Management Division (CLMD). This
is developed to guide the learning facilitators (teachers, parents and
responsible adults) in helping the learners to meet the standards set by the K
to 12 Basic Education Curriculum.

This Learning Activity Sheet is self-directed instructional materials

aimed to guide the learners in accomplishing activities at their own pace and
time using the contextualized resources in the community. This will also assist
the learners in acquiring the lifelong learning skills, knowledge and attitudes
for productivity and employment.

For learning facilitator:

The Biotechnology Activity Sheet will help you facilitate the teaching-
learning activities specified in each Most Essential Learning Competency
(MELC) with minimal or no face-to-face encounter between you and learner.
This will be made available to the learners with the reference/links to ease the
independent learning.

For the learner:

The Biotechnology Activity Sheet is developed to helped you continue

learning even if you are not in school. This learning material provides with
meaningful and engaging activities for independent learning. Being an active
learner, carefully read and understand the instructions then perform the
activities and answer the assessmentsts. This will be returned to your
facilitator on the agreed schedule.
Name of Learner: ___________________________________________________________
Grade and Section: _______________________________ Date: ____________________

BIOTECHNOLOGY ACTIVITY SHEET No. 8

Preparation of Biological Specimen

I. Learning Competency
Explain the different ways in the preparation of biological specimen.

II. Background Information for Learners

Specimen preparation is important in any microscopical technique with

proper preparation methods facilitating examination and interpretation of
microstructural features. Improper preparation methods may obscure
features, and even create artifacts that may be misinterpreted (Stutzman,
2021).

Specimen and slide preparation is a crucial step for histological or

cytological observation. It is essential to highlight what needs to be observed
and to immobilize the sample at a particular point in time and with
characteristics close to those of its living state.

This learning activity will help you understand the different ways in
preparing a biological specimen.

III. Activity
Activity: Back at One!
Directions: Read and study the steps in preparing biological specimen and perform
the task that follows.

Preparation using dry mount

• Dry mounts are the easiest microscope slides to make.
• Dry mounts work best for samples like pollen, hair, feathers, or even dust
particles caught in a microfilm filter.
• Place the sample on the slide and cover.
• The cover will work to protect both your sample and objective lenses.
• Mounts are temporary unless you seal the cover slip in some way. It is also
harder to see the more intricate structures of some species.

Preparation using wet mount

• The liquid refraction makes it easier to see intricate structures.
• If the specimen is alive, the liquid will make it possible to view both the natural
color and mobility patterns.
• To make a wet mount, place a few drops of your desired liquid on the slide.
• Add the specimen to your liquid, and then place a few more drops on top of it.
• Next apply the cover slip. This is done very gently in order to avoid the
formation of air bubbles.
 • Slowly lower the cover down at an angle, and it will eventually be held in place
by surface tension.
• Be sure to choose your liquid carefully to match your specimen.
• Wet mounts have disadvantages as well. Finding a moving specimen can be a
problem.
• The slides also tend to dry out under the light of the microscope.
• If your wet mounts are drying out before you are ready, apply an additional
drop of liquid under the cover slip.

Preparation using prepared mount

• Making prepared mount slides is more involved, although the advantage is

that once you are done you can keep them for a long time.
• First your specimen needs to be sliced very thin.
• The best tool for this is a microtome, an instrument used to cut materials into
featherweight slices.
• Once the specimen is thin enough, place it on your slide. You will have to
remove any excess water.
• Depending on the specimen you can air dry, blot, or use a heat source to dry
the sample.
• Add a dye like methylene blue in order to stain the intricate structures of the
specimen.
• You can add a drop of the dye to the sample, then place the cover on top.
• Adding a fixative to the specimen before you put on the cover slip will help
prevent decay. If you have a specimen that is in a wet mount, there is a really
simple way to stain it.

A. Directions. Identify the ways how biological specimen was prepared as described
by each statement.
1. Can be kept for a long time.
2. Uses microtome as the best tool to cut featherweight slices.
3. Easiest microscope slides to make.
4. Harder to see the more intricate structure of species.
5. Sure to choose your liquid carefully to match your specimen.
6. Slides tend to dry out under the light of microscope.

B. Explain the ways of preparing a biological sample by completing the table below.

Ways in the
Preparation of Brief Explanation
biological specimen
1. Dry Mount

2. Wet Mount

3. Prepared Mount
 Activity
A. Identification
1. Prepared
2. Prepared
3. Dry
4. Dry
5. Wet
6. Wet
B. Complete the table
Ways of Preparing a Brief Explanation
Biological Specimen
Dry Mount Dry mounts work best for pollen, hair, feathers, or
even dust particles caught in a microfilm filter. The
basic steps to prepare your own dry mount slide are
very simple. Dry mounts are temporary unless you
seal the cover slip in some way. It is also harder to
see the more intricate structures of some species.
Wet Mount Make a wet mount for your microscope slides. The
liquid refraction makes it much easier to see intricate
structures if the specimen is alive. Wet mounts have
disadvantages as well, such as finding a moving
specimen and drying out under the light of the
microscope. Some specimens don't do well when
faced with particular liquids.
Prepared Mount A microtome is an instrument used to cut materials
into featherweight slices. You can add a drop of dye
to the specimen before you put on the cover slip to
prevent decay. The best way to keep your specimen
dry is to air dry, blot or use a heat source.
IV. Reflection
After doing the learning activity I learned that proper ways of preparing
biological specimen should be observed in order to yield better results.
Each steps play a vital role in attaining good results.
V.Answer Key
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
After doing the learning activity I learned that
Complete the statement below.
IV. Reflection
V. Links and/or Other References

Google. “bioalternatives.com” Accessed July 29, 2021

https://www.bioalternatives.com/en/sample-and-slide-preparation/
Google. “https://www.gu.se/en/core-facilities Accessed July 29, 2021
https://www.gu.se/en/core-facilities/sem-sample-preparation-techniques
Google. “leicabiosystems.com” Accessed July 29, 2021
https://www.leicabiosystems.com/knowledge-pathway/an-introduction-to-specimen-
preparation/
Google. “publish.illinois.edu” Accessed July 29, 2021
http://publish.illinois.edu/concretemicroscopylibrary/specimen-preparation/
Google. “microscope-detective.com” Accessed August 8, 2021
https://www.microscope-detective.com/making-microscope-slides.html
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