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Wet Lab 2

This lab focused on observing and comparing plant and animal cells under a microscope. Students prepared slides of cheek cells from their inner cheek and observed the eukaryotic cells' nucleus and cytoplasm. They also viewed pre-prepared onion root tip cells and identified the different phases of mitosis, taking photos of each phase. The objectives were to identify cell division, compare plant and animal cells, and develop microscopy skills like slide preparation and magnification.

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Maitha Alqaydi
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13 views

Wet Lab 2

This lab focused on observing and comparing plant and animal cells under a microscope. Students prepared slides of cheek cells from their inner cheek and observed the eukaryotic cells' nucleus and cytoplasm. They also viewed pre-prepared onion root tip cells and identified the different phases of mitosis, taking photos of each phase. The objectives were to identify cell division, compare plant and animal cells, and develop microscopy skills like slide preparation and magnification.

Uploaded by

Maitha Alqaydi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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BIOL 111 – General Biology I (Lab)

Cells and Microscopy


Maitha Algaydi (Adapted from http://www.biologycorner.com/)

- Introduction
The cell theory states that all living things are composed of cells, cells are the basic
units of life, and that all cells arise from existing cells. In this course, we closely study
cells. There are 2 types of cells: prokaryotic and eukaryotic. Prokaryotes lack a
nucleus and true organelles, and are typically significantly smaller than eukaryotic
cells. Prokaryotic organisms are found within the domains Bacteria and Archaea.
Eukaryotic cells do contain nuclei, as well as other organelles that work together to
support homeostasis of the whole cell. Though eukaryotes are larger than prokaryotes,
we must use a microscope to view all cells, which are typically too small to see with
the naked eye.

There are vast differences between cell types, but a few features are common to all
cells: plasma membrane, cytoplasm, ribosomes, and cytoskeleton. All cells also use
DNA for their genetic material; in eukaryotes this is within the nucleus and in
prokaryotes it is found in the nucleoid region of the cytoplasm. Prokaryotes generally
have a cell wall made of peptidoglycan and some have flagella or fimbriae, which are
used for movement or attachment. Eukaryotes have several more organelles and are
further differentiated into 2 categories: plant cells and animal cells.

Some organelles common to eukaryotes include mitochondria, peroxisomes, vesicles,


lysosomes, smooth and rough endoplasmic reticula, and Golgi bodies. Animal cells
tend to lack cell walls and chloroplasts, while plant cells do contain chloroplasts and
have cellulose cell walls.

In this lab, animal cells and plant cells will be observed using the microscope. Students
will take pictures of what was visualized to record their observations.

Figure 1: Human cheek cell stain at high power “Cheek


Cells Identified (400x)” by biologycorner, via Flickr
- Material
• Compound
microscope
• Microscopic
slides
• Cover slip
• Cotton swab
• Dropper bottle
with dH2O
• Methylene blue
• Ethanol
• Beaker
• Plastic pipette
- Procedure
PART A: Prepare a wet mount of a human cheek cell and observe it under the
microscope

1. Place 2 - 3 drops of the water onto the center of a clean


microscope slide.

2. Gently scrape the inside of your cheek with a cotton swab.


Scrape lightly!

3. Put the end of the cotton swab with the cheek cells onto the
wetted area of the slide and mix the water and cheek cells
together.
4. Immediately, discard the swab in the disinfectant beaker.

5. Next, add one drop of methylene blue staining solution to


the wetted area of the slide and mix it.
6. Let the mixture sit at room temperature for 3 minutes.

7. Carefully, place a cover slip over the mix on the slide by first
standing one end of the cover slip vertically and aligning it
along to one side of the mixture. Then, carefully lower the
other end of the cover slip down until the mixture is
completely covered.
8. Finally, remove any excess liquid with blotting paper.
9. Use the SCANNING (4x) objective to focus. You probably will not see the
cells at this power.
10. Switch to low power (10x). Cells should be visible, but they will be small and
look like nearly clear purplish blobs. If you are looking at something very dark
purple, it is probably not a cell.
11. Once you think you have located a cell, switch to high power (40x) and refocus.
Remember, do NOT use the coarse adjustment knob at this point!
12. Take pictures of the cells at low and high power. Label the nucleus, cytoplasm,
and cell membrane of a single cell.
13. Discard the cheek cells microscopic slide in the disinfectant (ethanol) beaker.

PART B: Observer the pre-prepared sample onion cells under the microscope
and identify the different stages of mitosis. Take pictures of the cells at different
stages.
Lab report
Objectives of Experiment:
identify cell division phases in onion cells , compare plant and animal cells ,
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
compare characteristics between onion cells (plant cells) and cheek cells (animal cell)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
also ,
develop essential micropy skills like slide preperation Focusing and magnification use
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
, ,
.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Results
Cheek Cells (animal cell): Insert the photos you took of the cheek cell at the three
different magnifications
4x 10x 40x

Discussion

1. Is the cheek cell a eukaryote or prokaryote? How do you know?


membrane-bounded
Eukaryotic cell , because it have true nuclues enclosed a
within a nuclear membrane ,
and
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
organelles prokaryotic cells lakk of true nucleus and membrane bounded organelles
and .
.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. The light microscope used in the lab is not powerful enough to view
other organelles in the cheek cell. What parts of the cell were visible
and what organelles that were NOT visible but should have been in the
show details and used for observation
The light microscope does general cell
cheek cell.
not .

visible parts cell membrane , Nuclues


:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
not visible :
mitochondria , Endoplasmatic reticulum ,
Golgi apparatus ,
lysosome
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
microfilaments and macrotubules .

3. Why is methylene blue added to the cheek cells ?


it is used as a biological stain to enhance the visibility of cellular structures and components
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⑧ cell visualization

② contrast Enhancement

③ Nuclues identification

and their clear observe


it parts to
.

makes cells
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Identify the PMAT phases of the plant root mitosis slide. Take photos of
each phase and insert them below. Label the pictures according to their
phase.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Identify the PMAT phases of the plant root mitosis slide. Take photos of
each phase and insert them below. Label the pictures according to their
phase.

&

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