Describe what would be seen under a brightfield vs darkfield

Describe what would be seen under a brightfield vs darkfield microscope viewing a feather as the specimen. What are some of the characteristics and descriptions of the feather.

Solution

Feather under bright-field microscope: Since the specimen is denser and more opaque than its surroundings, the image is darker than the surrounding. So the feather appears darker in the bright surroundings. The feather can be used as either stained or unstained.

Feather under dark-field microscope: Since the light that enters the objective lens is blocked except the peripheral light which is reflected from the edges of the specimen, the feather looks brightly illuminated in the dark (black) field. it will not reveal the fine internal structures.