Expt # 2

Date: 11th October,2018.

Title: Animal and Plant Cells

Aim: To observe and draw onion epidermal cells and human cheek cells

Apparatus/ Materials:

Light Microscope 1% methylene blue

2 dry microscope slides Distilled Water

2 cover slips %10 bleach

Cotton Swabs Forceps

Iodine Solution Onion Bulb

Procedure:

For onion epidermal cells

1. A leaf of an onion bulb was removed, and it was bent backwards until it snapped into two
pieces.
2. On the inside of the leaf, the thin, transparent epidermis had a ragged edge. A piece of the
epidermis was removed using forceps.
3. It was placed on a clean, dry slide and a drop of iodine solution was added.
4. It was covered with a cover slip.
5. It was observed under the microscope, first at scanning power and then low power.
6. A drawing of at least two connecting cells under low power was made.

For human cheek cells

1. A mouth was rinsed inside with water.
2. A cotton swab was taken from a newly opened pack.
3. The cotton swab was moved over the inside of the cheek on one side of the mouth and along
the outer lower side of the gum.
4. The cotton was smeared over a small area (the centre) of a clean microscope slide.
5. The used cotton swab was placed immediately in the container of 10% bleach designated by the
instructor.
6. A drop of 1% methylene blue was placed onto the smear and it was covered with a coverslip.
7. The smear was observed under the lowest magnification of a microscope. When the cells were
in focus, the power of the objective was increased to achieve maximum magnification and
resolution.
8. A drawing of the stained preparation at high power was made.
 9. After having viewed the preparation, the slides and coverslips was placed in a container of 10%
bleach.

Results and Observations:

(DIAGRAMS)

Discussion:

Animal and Plant cells are categorized as eukaryotic cells. Hence, these types of cells have some
similarities as well as some differences when it comes to structure.

Animal and Plant cells have nuclei. A nucleus is in almost all cells and it is usually the largest organelle in
the cell. It contains chromosomes which are long molecules of DNA, therefore the nucleus plays a great
part in the reproduction of cells. This organelle is easy to identify because it takes stains more readily
than the cytoplasm, so it appears as the dark area in a cell.

Both types of cells also contain the cytoplasm. This substance is present in all cells and it is responsible
for giving cells their shape. It also helps to sustain the cell by having enzymes and minerals. Cytoplasm
also aids in metabolic processes.

The Plasma membrane is found present in both types of cells. This structure acts as a protector by
protecting the cell from its surroundings and it determines what substances can enter and exit the cell.
This structure can burst when the cell expands too much.

The Cell Wall is found outside the plasma membrane in plant cells. It serves structural protection. It
helps to support the plasma membrane when the cell expands too much and prevents it from bursting
when this occurs.

Also, the plant cells in the onion epidermis were found to be stacked like a brick wall whereas the animal
cheek cells were found to be spaced out. The animal cells were more round compared to the plant cells
which were more box like.

Conclusion: Plant and animal cells were found to contain the structures: Plasma Membrane, Cytoplasm,
Nucleus; however, the plant contains another structure known as the Cell wall.