Earning Criteria

• Earners understand and apply techniques of fixation by preparing biological samples that are submerged in solutions containing fixative chemicals under defined conditions of temperature and duration for the purpose of preserving morphology and improving histological processing. Earners then demonstrate their skills, evaluate their progress and create a new product using refined techniques.
• Earners understand and apply techniques of embedding, by  preparing are either a) dehydrated in alcohol gradient or b)  cryoprotected in  sucrose, then placed in molds containing either a) liquid paraffin or b) frozen sectioning compound (OCT), and oriented for optimal sectioning geometry.  Earners then demonstrate their skills, evaluate their progress and create a new product using refined techniques.
• Earners understand and apply techniques of microtomy, by preparing samples within solidified paraffin OCT blocks that are sliced using a microtome or cryostat.  Sections are mounted on glass microscope slides  or placed into buffer for free-floating staining.  Earners then demonstrate their skills, evaluate their progress and create a new product using refined techniques.
• Earners understand and apply techniques of staining, by preparing sample sections that are treated with a variety of solutions designed to enhance image contrast and/or detect specific features relevant to their scientific project, either by dye reactions or immunostaining.  Earners then demonstrate their skills, evaluate their progress and create a new product using refined techniques.
• Earner will submit a final powerpoint presentation depicting the methodological  details and results of their technical applications using images and text.