Biology lab equipments are used by biologists in various schools, hospitals, Research labs, colleges and universities for researches and experiment purposes. These equipments serve as a utility in carrying out biological projects in a laboratory by making it easier and possible to observe, dissect and conduct many other functions which a biologist requires to do.
The most basic and most used equipments in a biology lab are as follows:
PETRI DISHES, TEST TUBES AND TUBES
For examining specimens like – bacteria, other micro organisms, mucus, saliva, blood or urine, a biologist needs something to place the specimen in to examine it.
Petri Dishes: if a biologist needs a specimen or sample to grow for him to identify it, he needs it to culture it. A petri dish is used to culture specimens. It is a shallow plate which is made of glass. Any sample which is to be cultured is placed in the petri dish at a required temperature and then after 24 to 72 hour it is experimented on to figure out which type of organism or life species it is. After sterilizing a petri dish it can be used again and again. Slides: Samples which are to be viewed under a microscope are spread over a glass slide gently. The slide is treated with a fixative so that the components to not move. The slide is then covered up by a glass cover slip. Test tubes: To test chemical samples or spin a fluid or a mixture of fluids very quickly, test tube is used.
MICROSCOPES: These are biology lab equipments used to see organisms and samples more closely. Extremely expensive, they have high-powered lenses which help to see the samples closely through an eye piece. They are available in different powers according to the type of organisms the biologists want to see.
INDCATING AGENTS AND DYES: Dyes work as a coloring agent which colors the structures of a cell so that it can be viewed easily in the microscope. Some commonly used coloring agents are Iodine and methylene blue. Indicators are papers and solutions which are used to determine the chemical characteristics of a sampled chemical. Determining the acidic value of a chemical is done by using a PH paper which provides a range of colors which estimate the acidic characteristics of a chemical. Other indicator used is litmus paper.
SCALPELS, PROBES, FORCEPS: To Dissect animals or cut them apart in a proper and precise manner to study the body or internal structure, different instruments are used for cutting the animals and studying their anatomy.
Scalpels: It is a bladed instrument which can neatly cut through skin, muscles and organs.
Forceps: These are a clip like equipment which is used to pick up or lift a structure or tissue.
Probe: It is used to lift a structure or tissue before it is dissected.
BEAKERS, BUNSEN BURNERS AND FLASKS
Chemistry and Biology are interlinked with each other as there are chemical experiments which are also done in a Biology laboratory. Biologists have to mix solutions and chemicals. For mixing the chemicals the following biology lab instruments are used:
1. FLASKS – A flask has a narrow neck to avoid any spilling out of the solution in it. It is mostly used to transfer a solution stored in it into a beaker. Also it is an alternate container for solution whose container is to be plugged in an experiment.
2. BEAKERS – These are used to pour in mixed solutions into something else. It has a lip shaped point for pouring.
3. BUNSEN BURNERS - This is a heat source which is often used to heat solutions or boil them to the point of becoming gas or getting dissolved. A Bunsen burner is connected to a gas line. A spark ignites the flame in the burner as soon as the gas valve is opened.
The most basic and most used equipments in a biology lab are as follows:
PETRI DISHES, TEST TUBES AND TUBES
For examining specimens like – bacteria, other micro organisms, mucus, saliva, blood or urine, a biologist needs something to place the specimen in to examine it.
Petri Dishes: if a biologist needs a specimen or sample to grow for him to identify it, he needs it to culture it. A petri dish is used to culture specimens. It is a shallow plate which is made of glass. Any sample which is to be cultured is placed in the petri dish at a required temperature and then after 24 to 72 hour it is experimented on to figure out which type of organism or life species it is. After sterilizing a petri dish it can be used again and again. Slides: Samples which are to be viewed under a microscope are spread over a glass slide gently. The slide is treated with a fixative so that the components to not move. The slide is then covered up by a glass cover slip. Test tubes: To test chemical samples or spin a fluid or a mixture of fluids very quickly, test tube is used.
MICROSCOPES: These are biology lab equipments used to see organisms and samples more closely. Extremely expensive, they have high-powered lenses which help to see the samples closely through an eye piece. They are available in different powers according to the type of organisms the biologists want to see.
INDCATING AGENTS AND DYES: Dyes work as a coloring agent which colors the structures of a cell so that it can be viewed easily in the microscope. Some commonly used coloring agents are Iodine and methylene blue. Indicators are papers and solutions which are used to determine the chemical characteristics of a sampled chemical. Determining the acidic value of a chemical is done by using a PH paper which provides a range of colors which estimate the acidic characteristics of a chemical. Other indicator used is litmus paper.
SCALPELS, PROBES, FORCEPS: To Dissect animals or cut them apart in a proper and precise manner to study the body or internal structure, different instruments are used for cutting the animals and studying their anatomy.
Scalpels: It is a bladed instrument which can neatly cut through skin, muscles and organs.
Forceps: These are a clip like equipment which is used to pick up or lift a structure or tissue.
Probe: It is used to lift a structure or tissue before it is dissected.
BEAKERS, BUNSEN BURNERS AND FLASKS
Chemistry and Biology are interlinked with each other as there are chemical experiments which are also done in a Biology laboratory. Biologists have to mix solutions and chemicals. For mixing the chemicals the following biology lab instruments are used:
1. FLASKS – A flask has a narrow neck to avoid any spilling out of the solution in it. It is mostly used to transfer a solution stored in it into a beaker. Also it is an alternate container for solution whose container is to be plugged in an experiment.
2. BEAKERS – These are used to pour in mixed solutions into something else. It has a lip shaped point for pouring.
3. BUNSEN BURNERS - This is a heat source which is often used to heat solutions or boil them to the point of becoming gas or getting dissolved. A Bunsen burner is connected to a gas line. A spark ignites the flame in the burner as soon as the gas valve is opened.