brief method

• 1. collect a small piece of onion
• 2) using forceps, peel a thin skin or membrane away from the inner side of the layer
• 3) lay this skin flat on the microscope slide
• 4) put 2/3 drops of iodine on the onion skin
• 5) using a mounted needle, gently lower the coverslip onto the slide, making sure there are no trapped air bubbles
• 6) use a cloth to mop any iodine that spills out
• 7) use the x40 magnification to focus the onion cells and turn the coarse focus dial until the slide is almost in focus then use the fine focus dial to make the image clear
• 8) now use the x100 then x400 to see individual cells
• 9) draw and label 4-5 cells, as viewed under high power