APPLICATION OF A DIY RGB-COLOR MOBILE PHONE MICROSCOPE IN THE STUDY OF BIOLOGY

Komkrich Kaewpanus; Patcharawarin Ruanto; Suphattra Rapsathan; Sunisa Sueato; Kantarat Jaiinta; Theeraphat Phirachan; Prawit Sornchaipanya; Meechai Thepnurat

Komkrich Kaewpanus Biology Education Program, Faculty of Education, Chiang Rai Rajabhat University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand.
Patcharawarin Ruanto Biology Education Program, Faculty of Education, Chiang Rai Rajabhat University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand.
Suphattra Rapsathan Biology Education Program, Faculty of Education, Chiang Rai Rajabhat University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand.
Sunisa Sueato Biology Education Program, Faculty of Education, Chiang Rai Rajabhat University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand.
Kantarat Jaiinta Biology Education Program, Faculty of Education, Chiang Rai Rajabhat University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand.
Theeraphat Phirachan Biology Education Program, Faculty of Education, Chiang Rai Rajabhat University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand.
Prawit Sornchaipanya Biology Education Program, Faculty of Education, Chiang Rai Rajabhat University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand.
Meechai Thepnurat Physics Education Program and Physics Innovation Laboratory, Faculty of Education, Chiang Rai Rajabhat University, Chiang Rai 57100

Keywords: DIY lens, microscope, mobile phone, RGB color, biology

Abstract

The microscope opens a window into the microscopic world, revealing details essential to the study of biology. However, it is typically costly and impractical for fieldwork. This research intends to develop a DIY RGB color enhancement for liquid and solid lenses to improve RGB color functionality, thereby supporting the application of mobile phones as microscopes in laboratories and fields. Lichens (family Graphidaceae), lichen moths (family Erebidae), and bagworms (family Tineidae) were selected as biological specimens for examination, and images were captured using liquid lenses, whereas the solid lenses consist of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), mung bean roots (Vigna radiata (L.)), and hydra (Hydra sp.). The experiment demonstrated that the liquid lens achieves a maximum magnification of 6.1X, while the solid lens reaches 100X magnification. Sample sizes suitable for studying liquid lenses range from 1 to 5 mm, whereas those for solid lenses range from 10 to 1000 μm. Therefore, liquid and solid lenses can serve as alternatives to stereo and compound light microscopes, respectively. The analysis of RGB values from photographs captured with liquid and solid lenses revealed statistically significant differences among specimens, particularly for those obtained using the green color filter. These images showed enhanced resolution, improved visualization of specimen features, and a sharper distinction between the specimen and the background. This study enables the creation of RGB color liquid and solid lenses using accessible and low-cost materials. These lenses can be applied to studies on biology and related specific fields, including zoology, plant biology, and microbiology. They facilitate the examination of the structures of animals, plants, and fungi, specifically in laboratories and fields.