Introduction:
The purpose of the experiment is to identify and examine the human cheek cell under a
microscope using methylene blue. Cheek cells are eukaryotic cells with a membrane-enclosed nucleus
and other organelles that are easily shed from the mouth's lining.
The many components of a cell may be seen and distinguished easily when using biological
stains like methylene blue. This is because the stain will color some cell components while leaving out
others, making it possible to see each component clearly. This is an interesting experiment will teach us
about the basic structure of a cell and its key constituents. A technique called cell staining can be used
to enhance microscopic images of cells and their individual components. By using different stains, one
may decide whether to selectively stain a cell's nucleus, cell wall, or whole cell. The main benefit of
staining cells is to make the cell or certain cellular components more visible under a microscope. The
sections of the cell that may absorb stains or dyes are known as chromatic parts. These cell components
absorb the dye, making them more visible under the microscope and clearly distinguishable from other
components of the same cell. Large cells with atypical shapes and different cell membranes were seen.
Without stains, cells would look practically translucent, making it challenging to distinguish between
their many components. Both DNA and RNA have a high affinity for methylene blue. When the two
come together, a deeper stain is created that may be seen under a microscope.
As stated in the procedure, the first step entails using a clean cotton swab to scrape off the
epithelial layer from the inside of the mouth. After being cleaned, the slide is put on top of it to create a
smear. The next step is to apply a coloring solution. The excess dye is then taken off the slide and a
previously cleaned cover slip is added before it is ready for viewing under a microscope. then the cheek
cells are examined under a microscope. Blue methylene since it causes the DNA in the nucleus to glow
out, making the nucleus readily visible in a light microscope.
Results:
When we first looked through the microscope, which had a total magnification of 10X the group
captured smaller cells, our group clearly captured in 40x approximately a hundred rows of polygon-
shaped cells. However, the number of cells in view decreased as we altered the magnification. The tip
was rounded and the distance between the cheek cells was broader.
Squamous epithelial cells from the mouth's outer epithelial layer make up the visible cells.
Bacteria from the mouth and teeth are shown by the tiny blue spots. DNA is in the cheek cell's nucleus,
which is in its middle. The nucleus becomes stained when a drop of methylene blue is added, making it
stand out and easy to view under a microscope. The result may be seen as a mass of enormous,
atypically shaped cells with distinct cell membranes, each with a distinct dark blue nucleus in the middle,
and each with a slightly colored cytoplasm.
The first thing that can be noticed under a microscope is that cheek cells have a circular or oval
in shape. Second, jelly-like cytoplasm is present together with irregular, thin cellular boundaries, and
granular cytoplasm in the cytoplasm. Third, this cell is devoid of vacuoles, plastids, and a cell wall. They
also frequently contain cells from the squamous epithelium.
Conclusion:
As explained, the cell membrane encloses the nucleus, cytoplasm, and other organelles. Most
organs and cavities have epithelial tissue as their outermost layer. The many components of a cell may
be seen and distinguished easily when using biological stains like methylene blue. This is because the
stain will color some cell components while leaving out others, making it possible to see each
component clearly.
In the experiment, to produce a continuous layer, epithelial cells are tiny, polygonal in shape,
and tightly packed. Cell walls do not exist in the cells. An individual nucleus and a vacuole are both
enclosed by the cell membrane. The outermost layer of nearly different cavities is made up of epithelial
tissue. To conclude, the nucleus, which lies at the center of the cheek cell, is where DNA is contained.
When a drop of methylene blue is introduced, the nucleus becomes colored, making it stand out and
simple to see under a microscope. Even though the entire cell seems light blue in color, the nucleus in
the core of the cell is noticeably darker than the rest of the cell, making it simple to identify.
