Results

A total of three onion root cells treatments were performed to observe the mitotic
index. Figure 1 depicts a 400x magnified image in which the onion root cell had no
exposure to UV light. Most cells in mitosis are shown undergoing the interphase
stage (Figure 1). Onion root cells that were exposed to UV light for 20 seconds under
a 400x magnification are shown in Figure 2. Most cells are shown undergoing
prophase or metaphase (Figure 2). Figure 3 demonstrates onion root cells exposed
to UV light for one minute also under 400x magnification. Here, most cells are
observed undergoing mitosis in the prophase and metaphase phases (Figure 3).
Table 1 data for each trial conducted under each condition. The number of cells in
mitosis, total number of cells, and mitotic index are also shown (Table 1). The
control group had the highest percentage of mitotic index 10.2%, with the 20
second exposure group coming in at 8.98% mitotic index (Table 1). Lastly, the 1
minute exposure group had the lowest mitotic index of 7.53% (Table 1).

Figure 1.
Control group of onion root cells that were not exposed to UV light shown at 400x
magnification. Cells undergoing mitosis are labeled.
Figure 2. Onion root cells exposed to UV light for 20 seconds at 400x
magnification. Cells undergoing mitosis are labeled.
 Figure 3.
Onion root
cells that were exposed to UV light for one minute shown at 400x magnification.
Cells undergoing mitosis are labeled.

Mitotic
Conditio Cells in Mitosis Total Cells Index
n (%)
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
Control 4 6 10 50 59 88 10.2%
20 sec
UV
13 10 7 202 68 64 8.98%
Exposur
e
1 min
UV
5 3 10 101 26 112 7.53%
Exposur
e
Table 1. Mitotic index for each condition of onion root tip cells. Three trials were
conducted for each of the three conditions, totaling to nine trials.
 Discussion
The three different treatments show variability in the mitotic index relating to the
presence and length of UV radiation exposure. The purpose of this experiment
allowed for the comparison of the mitotic index for each treatment of onion root
cells in order to determine the effect of UV light on mitosis. The hypothesis is that
the onion root cells exposed to no UV light would have the highest mitotic index and
the longest UV exposure would result in the lowest mitotic index. A higher mitotic
index means that a higher ratio of onion root cells are undergoing mitosis in
comparison to cells not undergoing mitosis. A lower mitotic index means that a
lower ratio of onion root cells are undergoing mitosis in comparison to cells not
undergoing mitosis. UV exposure is commonly known to damage DNA in cells,
arresting the cell cycle causing a lower mitotic index. UV exposure has also been
found to slow the rate of cell division and delays mitosis. 1 The data shown in Table 1
supports the hypothesis as the control group with no UV exposure was observed to
have the highest percentage of cells undergoing mitosis. The onion root cells with
only 20 seconds of UV exposure showed a decrease in the mitotic index as
hypothesized (Table 1). However, the lowest mitotic index was seen in the onion
root cells that were exposed to UV light for the longest period of time, one whole
minute (Table 1). This again supports the hypothesis that the longest UV exposure
would lead to a lower mitotic index. As the cells are exposed to UV light for a longer
period of time, mitosis is delayed. This leads to less cells undergoing mitosis which
in turn leads to a lower mitotic index. In conclusion, UV light exposure reduced the
proportion of mitotically active cells also known as the mitotic index and increased
the time taken for cell division.
A possible source of error that may have occurred during this experiment could
have been from tapping the root tip cells too aggressively. This is could cause
damage to the cell nuclei and chromosomes in the onion root cells. One suggestion
to further this experiment could include using animal cells instead of plant cells,
such as the whitefish blastula. This would allow us to see the UV exposure effects on
a different type of cell.

References
1. Hopkins, L., Bond, M. and Tobin, A. (2002). Ultraviolet-B radiation reduces the
rates of cell division and elongation in the primary leaf of wheat (Triticum
aestivum L. cv Maris Huntsman). Plant, Cell and Environment, 25(5), pp.617-
624.