Download Cells project 2017

Year 8 Major Project – Cell morphology practical
Introduction:
Write a brief summary (half a page) of the history of cell theory. Use page 56-58 from your
textbooks as a guide for research. Make sure to outline and describe:
- The main scientists who contributed to cell theory
- The three key ideas of cell theory
Rationale:
The aim of this task is to use slide and microscope techniques to examine and compare 4
different types of cells – plant, animal, bacterial, and fungal cells. You will also observe the cells
of Protists. Comparisons will be made based on their physical characteristics.
Aim: (Students to complete)
Materials: (Students to complete)
Method:
Plant cells
1) Peel a thin layer of skin from an onion.
2) Prepare a wet mount of the onion layer with iodine stain.
3) Obtain a clear image with the microscope and sketch the details of one cell.
Animal cells
1) Use the prepared slide of cheek cells. Draw one cell and its structures.
Bacterial cells
1) Using prepared bacterial slides observe the bacteria under high magnification and draw one
cell, labelling any features.
Fungal cells
1) Observe the prepared fungal cells under a microscope under high magnification and draw
one cell, labelling any features.
Protist cells
1) Place a drop of pond water onto the microscope slide.
2) Add one drop of paraffin oil to the water droplet and gentle mix.
3) Add cover slip, view under low power and draw one cell.
4) Go to youtube and search “pond life”. Draw 4 diagrams of what you see.
Results: (Students to complete). These are your scientific drawings. Always include title (what is
the drawing of e.g. onion cell), label the structural components (e.g. cell wall, nucleus, vacuole
etc.), don’t forget to include magnification.
Discussion: (Students to complete)
1) Draw a fully labeled diagram of a light microscope.
2) Explain how you used the two lenses of a light microscope to calculate your magnifications in
your diagrams. Use examples.
3) List three organelles that were impossible to see during this experiment. Why was this, and
what could you do to observe them?
4) Describe the differences between the cells of:
i) Animals and plants
ii) Plants and bacteria
iii) Plants and fungi
iv) Bacteria and fungi
Be sure to mention size, structure, and organelles. Diagrams and a table would be useful.
5) What were the structures that were clearly visible through the light microscope?
6) Select 4 of the organelles you mentioned in Question 4 and state their function.
7) Describe any experimental errors/problems that you had with the experiment and possible
ways of improving upon your results.
Conclusion: (Students to complete)
Conclude on your findings i.e. summarise similarities and differences between the cells
observed.