Name: ______________________________ Date Performed: _____________________

Groupmates: _________________________ Grade and Section: _______________________

Laboratory Report No: ___

Observing the Cell

Introduction

All organisms are made up of cells, which are the fundamental units of living organisms. Cells may
differ in size and structure but essentially performs functions to support life. In spite of these
differences, cells share similar features and qualities.

Objectives

1. Identify the different parts of a cell

2. Differentiate the structures of a prokaryotic cell and a eukaryotic cell
3. Understand the different functions of the cell’s organelles

Materials
microscope onion yogurt cover slip iodine stain

coloring materials glass slide prepared slide of Paramecium dropper

Procedure

A. Plant cell
1. Make a wet mount of onion cells by using your nails to peel off a thin layer of onion tissue.
2. Place the onion tissue flat on the slid, and then add 1-2 drops of iodine stain. Place cover
slip. Remove any air bubbles by tapping the cover slip gently.
3. 4. Observe the cells under both low and high power of your microscope. Locate the nucleus
(small round structure within each cell). Examine the nucleus carefully by focusing up and
down through the cell. 5. With high power, observe the tiny dots or eyelike structures
within the nucleus and locate the nucleoli
4. 6. Illustrate an onion cell. Label the cell wall, nucleus, and nuclear membrane.

onion cell under a microscope

 B. Animal cell
1. Observe a Paramecium under a prepared slide.
2. Illustrate the Paramecium cell and label all parts you see.
3. Label the structures that allow this organism to move.

Paramecium cell under a microscope

5.

1. Do animal cells have cell walls? ____________________________________________________

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2. What is the function of the cell membrane?__________________________________________
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3. Why was stain added to the onion? _________________________________________________
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4. What is the function of the nucleus? ________________________________________________
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5. Where is the nucleolus found? _____________________________________________________
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6. What is the function of the nucleolus? _______________________________________________
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7. What structure separates the contents of the nucleus from the cytoplasm? _________________
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8. What is the function of the chloroplast? _____________________________________________
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Questions

1. How are plants and animal cells similar?

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2. How are animal and plant cells different?

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3. If you were given a slide containing living cells of an unknown organism, how would you identify
the cells as being either plant or animal?
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Generalization
 4. What can you conclude about the size and shape of cells? Support your explanation with
observations from your laboratory activity.
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5. What can you conclude about cells?

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