Aim

To compare the human cheek cells with the epidermal cells of onion
Problem statement
What are the similarities and differences between animal cells and plant cells
Hypothesis
Animal cells and plant cells have similarities and differences
Materials and apparatus
Iodine solution, 1% methylene blue solution, distilled water, onion, filter paper,
toothpick, light microscope, dropper, slides, cover slips, scaple, white tile and forceps
Technique
A sample of the onion cell or the cheek cell is taken and mounted onto a microscope
slide and observed under the light microscope
Procedure
(A) Human cheek cell
1. The inside of the cheek is gently scraped with the blunt end of the toothpick
. The scraping then placed in a drop of distilled water on clean slide
!. A cover slip is carefully placed over the scraping so that air bubbles are not
trapped under the cover slip
". The cheek cells are e#amined under a light microscope
$. The cheek cells are then stained with 1% methylene blue solution using a
techni%ue called irrigation &a drop of methylene blue solution is placed on the
slide'touch the edge of the cover slip. The stain then drawn from opposite
slide of the cover slip by a piece of filter paper(
). The stained cell are re'e#amined under the light microscope. A diagram is
drawn and labelled.
(B) Epidermal cells of onion
1. The fleshy scale leaves of an onion are cut into strips
. A strip of fleshy scale leaf is then bent into halves and pulled apart to obtain a
small piece of epidermis
!. The epidermis is placed in a drop of distilled water on a clean slide and then
cover up with a cover slip
". The epidermis is e#amined with a light microscope
$. The cell are stained with iodine solution using the irrigation techni%ue
). The stained cells are re'e#amined under a light microscope. A diagram of a cell
is drawn and labelled
Results!bser"ations
Human cheek cell !nion epidermis cell
#iscussion
The methylene blue solution stains the cytoplasm of the cheek cells pale blue and
the nucleus dark blue.
The iodine solution stains the starch grains dark blue.
The animal cells and plant cells have cytoplasm, nucleus and plasma membrane. *lant
cells have cell wall and tonoplast but animal cells don+t have
$onclusion
The hypothesis is accepted. There are similarities and differences between onion
cell and cheek cell