Microscopy is fun
Fungi for Schools  © British Mycological Society 2005

 

  

 

Sooner or later (and probably sooner rather than later) you'll want to really examine the details of your fungi and you'll start thinking about using a microscope to do that. Here's how!

 

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Classroom materials may be copied freely for educational purposes only. All rights reserved for commercial use. © British Mycological Society 2006.

 

In this series of articles, several very experienced mycologists offer advice on the best way to use a microscope to study fungi.

Choosing a microscope

Setting up the microscope, part 1

Setting up the microscope, part 2

Preparing specimens

Using Iodine-lactophenol

Using Congo Red

Photography through the microscope for absolute beginners

Photomicrography

These are the formal references for the articles available in this section:

Evans, S. (2000). Choosing your first microscope. Field Mycology 1: 52-53.

Moss, M.O. (2000). Setting up the microscope, part 1. Field Mycology 1: 128-130.

Moss, M.O. (2003). Setting up the microscope, part 2. Field Mycology 4: 88-90.

McAdam, A. Preparing specimens for microscopy with jeweller's forceps. Field Mycology 5: 81-82.

Hawkswell, A. (2001). Iodine-lactophenol as a mycological mounting medium. Field Mycology 2: 12.

Emmett, E.E. (2003). Microscopical techniques - Congo Red. Field Mycology 4: 72-73.

Braddock, A. (2000). Photography through the microscope. A guide for absolute beginners. Field Mycology 1: 7-8

Dickson, G. (1989). Photographing fungi. 7. Mycologist 3: 37-38

 

If you want to see how the professionals do it we would suggest you get hold of a copy of Biology of Living Fungi which is a CD by Patrick D. Hickey and Nick D. Read. Published by the British Mycological Society, this CD is a compilation of movies that illustrate key aspects of the cell biology of living filamentous fungi obtained using fluorescence imaging and confocal microscopy. The CD features time-lapse sequences and 3D-reconstructions of fungal cells stained with fluorescent dyes and/or expressing Green Fluorescent Protein, photographs of fungi in their natural habitat and movies of bioluminescent mushrooms. This CD-ROM is a powerful educational tool to show the dynamic nature of fungal cells, but it also takes you into the world of the professional microscopist. The CD-ROM can be purchased from the Fungal Cell Biology Group website.

 

Also, try a visit to the Royal Microscopical Society website at www.rms.org.uk/.

 

 

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Fungi for Schools - an integrated  collection of teaching resources © British Mycological Society 2005

13/08/2006