Download OBDERVING MITOSIS IN PLANT CELLS

OBSERVING MITOSIS IN PLANT CELLS
We will be observing onion (plant) cells and comparing the different cell stages. Observe the stages carefully,
and make detailed drawings of each stage of mitosis for the plant cells. You must label all your drawings with
the parts you can see and identify in the slide (cell wall, cell membrane, chromosomes, chromatids, and spindle
fibers, etc). Notice how the arrangement of chromosomes helps you determine the phase of mitosis. Copy the
circles onto your binder paper. Make sure you include magnification for each illustration. After completing the
drawings, answer the questions in complete sentences on your paper.
Interphase
Prophase
Metaphase
Anaphase
Telophase
Answer the following questions in COMPLETE sentences on your paper.
1. Describe each step of Mitosis and the “major” occurrence in each stage.
2. What is the easiest way to distinguish the phase of mitosis you are looking at?
3. Why do you think we used an Onion Root to see the stages? Why not a fully developed plant?
4. Do you think animal cells would be similar to these slides or different? EXPLAIN
5. Looking at one full field of vision, estimate what percent of your cells are in each phase. (Interphase,
Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, Telophase and Cytokinesis). Do you feel your %’s are an accurate
estimate of time spent in each stage? Explain.