Tools Used in Biology

1. Tools Used in Biology

2. Safety goggles • used to protect eyes; forms tight seal around face to keep ALL materials away from • hard plastic front, soft plastic sides • Air-tight seal if needed; air flow allowed if safe to do so • little, if anything, gets to delicate tissues near eyes

3. Safety glasses • eye protection from front only; is not sealed around face. • hard plastic

4. Beaker • used to measure rough (imprecise, not exact) liquid volumes • “cup-like, but with graduations or measurements on the sides and a pour spout on one side. • Comes in a variety of sizes from very small (10 milliliters) to huge (5 liters) and even larger. • Short, squatty • Glass, plastic

5. Test tube • used to do “mini-experiments in • small amounts of materials are put into one of these to get an idea of how larger amounts will react without wasting a lot of the material to be tested. • Comes in variety of sizes as well, has NO measurements on the outside – used only for trial runs. • Glass, plastic

6. Graduated Cylinder • used to measure EXACT liquid volumes • has graduations on side, comes in variety of sizes • tall, thin • Glass ones have a protective “collar” to prevent breakage if tips over • glass, plastic

7. Test tube rack • used to support sets of test tubes, leaving hands free to work. • Can work with MANY tubes or sets of tubes at one time. Will have many square or round openings. • Glass, plastic, wood, wire

8. Dissection equipment • Dissecting tray or dissecting pan • Dissecting scissors • Scalpel • Blunt probe • Dissecting needle/teasing needle • Forceps • Dissecting pins (T-pins) • dropper

9. Dissecting tray or pan • used to hold/support specimens while dissecting. • Usually metal with bottom covered by wax or latex into which pins can be anchored for specimen stability. • Note: a dissecting pan has higher sides than a dissecting tray.

10. Dissecting scissors • used for rough cutting of specimens. • More durable because are cutting from two directions at same time (above and below). • Surgical steel

11. Scalpel • used for fine (precise) cutting of specimens. • Cuts in only one direction at a time –TOWARD YOU!! • Not used to saw with like a knife. Hold like pen/pencil for control. • Surgical steel handle, replaceable, fine metal blade)

12. Blunt probe • used to gently lift to the side any material that is obstructing view during dissection or examination • Allows for DISCOVERY without DAMAGE – has a blunt, curved end shaped somewhat like a small hook. • metal

13. Dissecting needle/teasing needle • used to gently tear through layers of tissue without damaging what is underneath • tip is sharp, and can be either straight or curved; mounted on wooden/plastic handle • Wooden handle, metal tip)

14. Forceps • NOT CALLED TWEEZERS when are sharp!!! • Serve as an extension of your fingers • for fine (delicate) lifting or handling • Metal, plastic

15. Stoppers • acts as temporary closure for glassware that does not have a lid • can have holes cut through it for tubing to pass and connect various containers • Rubber, cork

16. Thermometer • measures temperature in Fahrenheit or Celsius • Celsius will be used in science – metric system measurement • Glass, plastic, with fluid inside (alcohol)

17. Petri dish • used to grow cultures in; has top which is larger than bottom for loose fit, which allows air in but keeps debris out • Mimics the environment around it like a mini-experimental chamber, but NO CONTAMINATION from top or sides • Glass, plastic

18. Culture dish • Like petri dish, but has NO LID; mimics environment EXACTLY, debris and all, but can be transported to lab for testing. • Glass, plastic

19. Specimen jar • any container with a tightly-closing lid; seals off contents from environment, allows for collection and ISOLATION. • Glass, plastic

20. Apron • used to protect clothing and body from spills/damage/exposure to unnecessary materials; • paper, plastic, lead • worn OVER clothing.

21. Hand lens • used to enlarge viewing area when specimen is too large or bulky to use a dissecting scope • NOT USED FOR MICROSCOPIC ORGANISMS!!! • Metal, plastic, wooden handle

22. Triple beam balance • 1 pan, with weights mounted on beams for shifting (like in doctor’s office) • used to measure the mass of materials

23. Cover slip • used to cover tiny specimens on a microscope slide to protect scope from contamination • Small, square shape • clear glass, plastic

24. Microscope slide • used to mount tiny specimens on so that they can be observed under magnification on scope • rectangular shape, relatively durable • Should NEVER touch flat surface – use edges to pick up and manuever • clear glass, plastic

25. Dropper • Also called pipet, medicine dropper • Used to transfer SMALL LIQUID VOLUMES • Has a squeeze bulb attached or mounted on a long, thin tube that tapers at the end • Glass with removeable bulb (can clean) OR molded plastic (disposable)

26. Metric ruler • used to measure length in metric units millimeter mm centimeter cm meter m kilometer km

27. Ring stand • provides height to lab table for attachment of apparatus • weighted at bottom to prevent tipping • Metal • rings: provide platform on which to rest or anchor apparatus

28. Wire mesh • sits on the iron ring to provide a place to stand other glassware

29. Beaker tongs • used to transfer apparatus that may be too warm or too cold to touch with hands • specifically, beakers that have been heated or cooled • Metal with cloth or fiber sleeve

30. Test tube brush • used to clean out test tubes or any other long, narrow tube • Variety of sizes available; use one that will reach to bottom of container with tightest fit!

31. Test tube holder • provides extension of fingers with which to hold individual test tubes over extreme heat/cold or to transfer individual test tubes that are too hot or cold to touch • metal

32. Watch glass • used to cover openings of beakers and Erlenmeyer flasks to slow down evaporation and to prevent contamination • also used for evaporating small amounts of liquid when trying to dry out samples

33. funnel • used to prevent splashing and loss of liquid during transfer to a smaller-mouthed container • used as a base for filter paper when separating liquids and solids • Glass, plastic

34. Erlenmeyer flask • used to measure rough liquid volumes that need to be mixed in the container (vortexed) • has a much smaller mouth than base in order to prevent tipping over. • glass

35. Microscope • used to enlarge view of tiny objects – microscopic needs! • lowest magnification usually 10X • highest depends on company manufacturing and what need to use for.

36. Dissecting scope • Used to magnify specimens that are too large for use with a microscope • At Mill Creek -- binocular

37. Lens paper • Used to polish ALL parts of scope with glass/plastic present for viewing • Lint-free • Gets rid of fingerprints and smudges • NEVER USE PAPER TOWELS OR CLOTHS ON A SCOPE!!!

38. Dissecting pins • used to hold down portions of specimens that are being dissected and observed. • T-pins are most commonly used due to ease of use (more surface area to push down on) • metal

39. Spatula • used to move small amounts of dry chemicals • flat on both ends, one more pointed for smaller quantities • metal

40. Scoopula • used to move larger amounts of dry chemicals • entire length is folded in, forming a scoop, one end equipped with a rounded tip for beginning transfer of the chemical • metal

41. Stirring rod • used to mix chemicals manually • glass

42. Bunsen burner • produces a controlled flame; hooks up to gas jets in classroom • blue portion of flame is the hottest • control flame by opening and closing air flow through bottom of burner. • metal

43. Striker • used to light Bunsen burners. • The flints on strikers are expensive. Do not operate the striker repeatedly just to see the sparks!

44. Hot plate • used to heat liquids and melt solids as needed for mixing chemicals • Provides a controlled heat source needed for extended periods of heating (ex. Water bath)

45. Centigram balance (quad-beam balance) • Used for massing objects • more precise than a triple beam balance (more decimal places)

46. Electronic balance • Most precise of the 3 types – can give up to 4 decimal places if designed for that

47. Innoculating loop/nichrome wire • in biology, used to transfer small cultures from one petri dish to another for future study and purification • (metal or plastic – plastic ones are one-use and sterile) • in chemistry, used for flame tests (so this one is always metal)