Download PLANT AND ANIMAL CELL OBSERVATION LAB

Name:
PLANT AND ANIMAL CELL OBSERVATION LAB
Purpose: The purpose of this lab is for you to get comfortable with using the microscope and changing from
4X, 10X, and 40X objective lens while viewing a specimen as well as fine-tune your observation skills and
attention to detail. Moreover, in this lab you will be comparing and contrasting two types of cells: plant and
animal cells. You will be graded only on what is submitted on this lab sheet (no formal write up). Make
sure to be descriptive and thorough.
Procedure:
1. Animal cell: Take a toothpick and rub the inside of your cheek with it. Do not stab your cheek and
draw blood, your epithelial cells in your mouth will come off fairly easily.
2. Then rub and roll the toothpick onto a clean glass slide to ensure proper transferal of cells.
3. Place one drop of blue dye onto the slide, on top of the cells, and place a cover slide over that. You
may want to take a paper towel and absorb any excess blue dye leaking from the cover slide by just
touch the paper towel to the side of the cover slip- think capillary action!
CAUTION: THIS DYE WILL STAIN CLOTHES PERMANTLY AND SKIN FOR A FEW
DAYS!
4. Place slide under microscope and view at 4X first.
5. Change objective lens to 10X and focus for clear resolution.
6. Change to the 40X objective lens and focus for clear resolution.
7. Now draw what you see at 40X. USE COLOR AND PAY ATTENTION TO DETAIL. You will be
assessed on your attention to detail.
8. Also, describe using full and complete sentences what you see next to your drawing of the specimen.
9. Plant cell: Cut a thin piece of onion, the thinner the piece the better viewing you will have.
10. Place a drop of iodine on a clean glass slide, place the sliced onion on top of it, cover with a cover
slide.
11. Place under microscope and view at 4X, then 10X, then 40X. Draw in detail what you see at 40X
magnification. USE COLOR AND PAY ATTENTION TO DETAIL.
12. Also, describe using full and complete sentences what you see next to your drawing of the specimen
13. Your Choice: I have brought in a variety of other plant and animal cell specimens. Choose 2 more to
view @ 40X and draw. Also, describe using full and complete sentences what you see next to your
drawing of the specimen
Data:
1. Specimen:_________________________________
Magnification:_____________________________
Written description of what you see:
2. Specimen:_________________________________
Magnification:_____________________________
Written description of what you see:
3. Specimen:_________________________________
Magnification:_____________________________
Written description of what you see:
4. Specimen:_________________________________
Magnification:_____________________________
Written description of what you see:
Data Analysis: Use your observations and your text book to answer the following questions in full
and complete sentences.
1. Name and describe in full detail at least three structural similarities between the plant and animal
cells.
2. Name and describe in full detail at least three structural differences between the plant and animal
cells.
3. How do these similarities and differences affect the function of the cell and organism?