Alan Harvey wrote:

See Baker, J.R., 1958. "Principles of Biological Microtechnique", pp. 21-22. Briefly, "Fixation" is mostly important to the histologist. It is important to "fix" tissue in as close to a living state as possible AND prevent any further change, either by autolysis or the effects of subsequent processing solutions. "Preservation" is only to keep the tissue from decay and decomposition. In museum collections "preservation" is only required. However, if microscope slides are to be made of the tissue, then "fixation" is required first as the fixing/preservation fluids interact with subsequent staining.

---------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas K. Wilson wilsontk at MUohio.edu Dept. of Botany Miami University ! Miami was a University when Oxford OH 45056 ! Florida belonged to Spain ! USA 513.529.4210 office 513.529.4243 fax