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Date:

CELL PARTS: LAB

PART A: Human Cheek Cell
List the three parts of the cell theory 1. 2. 3. Describe or define each of the following: Cell Membrane Nucleus Cytoplasm Organelle

Procedure 1. Place a drop of methylene blue on a slide. CAUTION: methylene blue will stain clothes and skin. 2. Gently scrape the inside of your cheek with the flat of a toothpick. Scrape lightly. 3. Stir the end of the toothpick in the drop of methylene blue and throw the toothpick away. Place a coverslip onto the slide. 4. Place slide onto your stage. Ensure your microscope is at low power. 5. Cells should be visible, but they will be small and look like nearly clear purplish blobs. If you are looking at something very dark purple, it is probably not a cell. 6. Observe the cheek cell under low, medium and high power. Data Sketch the cell at low, medium and high power. Label the nucleus, cytoplasm and cell membrane of a single cell at high power. Draw your cells to scale.

Low Power

Medium Power

High Power

Adapted From: http://www.schools.manatee.k12.fl.us/webdisk/072JOCONNOR/WebPages/observingcellslab.htm

PART B: Onion Cell

1. What is the function of chloroplasts?

2. Name two structures found in plant cells, but not animal cells. 3. What structure surrounds the cell membrane (in plants) and gives the cell support?

Procedure 1. Peel a translucent piece of tissue from the onion. The smaller the piece the better. (translucent means that you can see light through the specimen, but it is not transparent) 2. Place the piece of onion on a glass slide and add a drop or two of the iodine solution. 3. Place a coverslip onto the slide. 4. Place slide onto your stage. Ensure your microscope is at low power. 5. Observe the onion cell under low, medium and high power. Data Sketch the cell at low, medium and high power. Label the cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm and nucleus of a single cell at high power. Draw your cells to scale.

Low Power

Medium Power

High Power

Adapted From: http://www.schools.manatee.k12.fl.us/webdisk/072JOCONNOR/WebPages/observingcellslab.htm

Conclusions 1. Why is methylene blue necessary?

2. The light microscope used in the lab is not powerful enough to view other organelles in the cheek cell. What parts of the cell were visible?

3. List two organelles that were NOT visible but should have been in the cheek cell.

4. Your saliva starts the process of breaking down the food you eat. Keeping in mind that the mouth is the first site of chemical digestion in a human, what organelle do you think would be numerous inside the cells of your mouth? Explain.

Adapted From: http://www.schools.manatee.k12.fl.us/webdisk/072JOCONNOR/WebPages/observingcellslab.htm

5. What structures were present in the onion cells that were not present in your cheek cells? Describe the functions of these structures.

6. Fill out the Venn Diagram below to show the differences and similarities between the cheek cells and the onion cells.

Adapted From: http://www.schools.manatee.k12.fl.us/webdisk/072JOCONNOR/WebPages/observingcellslab.htm