Download Specimen 1 - CLC Charter School

Name: _________________________________
Comparing Plant and Animal Cells
Background:
1. What is the cell theory?
2. Write a brief description of each of the following:
Organelle
Cell membrane
Cell wall
Nucleus
3. Define cell specialization.
Hypothesis:
Specimen 1
Specimen 2
1. Identify each cell as either a plant or animal cell. Explain your reasoning.
Specimen 1:
Specimen 2:
Specimen 3:
2. Identify each specimen as: onion cells; red blood cells; or cheek cells.
Specimen 1:
Specimen 2:
Specimen 3:
Procedure:
1. Select a slide from our collection.
Specimen 3
2. Use the coarse objective to focus. You probably will not see the cells at this power but you can
eliminate blurriness by focusing now.
3. Switch to low power. Cells should be visible, but they will be small and look like irregular shaped
objects similar to the cells below.
4. Once you think you have located a cell, switch to high power and refocus. (Remember: DO NOT use
the coarse adjustment knob at this point!)
5. Repeat steps 1 – 4 for one or two more slides.
Observations:
1. Draw a picture of your cell specimen.
2. Label the cell membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus.
Mystery Specimen 1
Mystery Specimen 2
Mystery Specimen 3
Conclusions:
1. The compound light microscope used in the lab is not powerful enough to view many of a cell’s
organelles.
a. Name three organelles that you DID see.
b. Name and describe the function of 2 organelles that were NOT visible but you know were present
in the cells.
2. How were your cheeks cells (Specimen 1) similar to onion cells (specimen 2)? How were they
different?
3. A cell’s shape often correlates with its function. How do you explain the shape of the onion cells
(specimen 2) versus blood cells (specimen 3)?
4. After looking at your 3 mystery cell specimens, what conclusions can you make about the type (plant
or animal) or function of each cell?
Mystery Specimen 1:
Mystery Specimen 2:
Mystery Specimen 3: