LAB REPORT: 3

Onion Cells Under a Microscope

OBJECT IVE:
To observe the structure of a plant cell.

INTRODUCT ION:
A cell is a mass of cytoplasm that is bound externally by a cell membrane. Usually
microscopic in size, cells are the smallest structural units of living matter and compose all living
things. Most cells have one or more nuclei and other organelles that carry out a variety of tasks.

The onion cell is a plant cell that can be obtained by peeling off an onion. Onion cells
exhibit a brick-like shape under the microscope. It has a cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm,
nucleus, and a large vacuole. At the periphery of the cytoplasm, the nucleus is present.

MATERIALS:

METHODOLOGY:

o Add a drop of water at the center of the microscopic slide

o Having pulled of a thin membrane from the onion layer, lay it at the center of the
microscopic slide (the drop of water will help flatten the membrane.
o Gently lay a microscopic cover slip on the membrane and press it down gently
using a needle to remove air bubbles.
o Touch a blotting paper on one side of the slide to drain excess water solution,
o Place the slide on the microscope stage under low power to observe.
o Adjust focus for clarity to observe.
RESULTS:

Viewing the specimen under the 100X, 400X, and 1200X objectives.
Always start with a low power objective (100X) and then high-power
objectives (400x) (1200x) clicked into place.

100X 400X

1200X
DISCUSSION:
I used three objective lenses of varying magnifications and viewed it through a
light microscope.

Firstly, I used 100x magnification under lower power objective.

The lowest power objective has the largest field of view, but I
couldn’t see some details of the cell, more specifically the
Nucleus.
If you will look closely, it seems that the onion cell has a brick-
like shape. Moreover, I do adjust the light each time as needed so
that I was able to see if there’d be any changes. I noticed that if it
has a low light the cell membrane become darker.

Second, I used 400x magnification under high power objective.

Under 400x magnification, you will notice that it’s also looks
like the previous one.
Here, I also couldn't see the details of the cell as well. As you can
see the light has already adjusted, and it became brighter, yet I
still couldn’t identify the cell and its part

Lastly, I used 1200x magnification under high power objective.

Under 1200x magnification, the onion cell become more detailed
than the previous magnifications that I’d used.
Here, since the onion cell was already visible in my field of view. I
can now identify the different parts of the cell of an onion, the cell
wall, cell membrane, Nucleus, and its Vacuole, but I failed to see
the cytoplasm of it. I am not really sure if I’ve
already saw the cytoplasm since there’s a plenty of
dots that surrounds the onion cell.

FUNCTIONS
 The cell wall is a protective outer covering of the cell. It supports the contents of the cell
and protects from pathogen attack and wear and tear. It prevents water loss from plant
cells.

The cell membrane is the membrane found in all cells that separates the interior of the
cell from the outside environment.

The nucleus is known as the control center of the cell.

The vacuole is a membrane-bound organelle that stores solid and liquid contents.

The cytoplasm is a jelly-like material that is eighty percent water and is usually clear in
color

COMPOSED OF……

Cell Wall: Protective Coat in Plant Cells

The cell wall is rigid and composed of cellulose fiber, polysaccharides, and proteins.
Despite the rigidity of the cell wall, chemical signals and cellular excretions are allowed to pass
between cells.

Cell Membrane:
It consists of both lipids and proteins and is selectively permeable, which means it
permits only some molecules to pass through it.

Nucleus: The Control Centre

It contains the regulatory machinery responsible for all the activities inside the cell. It is
the largest organelle in the cell, and it contains the DNA of the cell.

Vacuoles: Cell’s Storage Space

are formed by the fusion of multiple membrane vesicles and are effectively just larger
forms of these.
Cytoplasm: Cell’s Inner Space
is a jelly-like material that is eighty percent water and is usually clear in color. It is also
called cytosol. Cytoplasm contains all the organelles inside the cell membrane.

CONCLUSION:

I there for conclude that an onion cell has a cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus,
and a large vacuole. Onion cell has a brick-like, more regular shape, it is plant cell with a cell
wall and a large vacuole, and its cell wall is made up of cellulose,
 Moreover, I have noticed that whenever that the magnifications increases it become more
detailed, but less of the cell is seen. Therefore, if at low-magnification you will be able to see the
whole cell, but when you change that into high-magnifications the onion cell becomes more
detailed, but less of it can be seen.

Furthermore, this is an easy and fun activity it allows me to learn about the cell structure.
I also have the opportunity to experiment and observe the onion membrane without the stain.
Having observed the onion cell under the microscope, I was able to learn about what plant cells
looks like, in addition I was able to know the function of the different parts of the cell.