Name: ______Date: ______Block: ______
Organelle Observations: Cell Lab #1
Background: Cells are the basis for all living things. The smallest living organism is ______cell big. Anything smaller than one cell is not considered to be living. A cell is protected by a barrier, called the ______. Inside the cell, the ______controls all cell activities. The ______is a gel-like liquid that provides support, shape, and transportation within the cell. There are many other organelles that enable the cell to perform very complex activities. Some of these organelles are visible using the ______microscope that we have in class. Other organelles are too small to be seen in our microscopes and are only visible using more powerful microscopes, such as the ______microscope.
Cells can be classified by type, such as prokaryotic or ______, or plant or animal cells. These types have specific, identifiable differences that alter the functions and capabilities of the cells. Today, our investigation will focus on identifying the differences and similarities between plant and animal cells. While plant and animal cells are both examples of a eukaryotic cell, there are differences that you should be able to observe in lab.
Purpose: To observe various examples of preserved plant and animal cells in order to identify differences between the two cell types and to identify common organelles visible in these specimens.
Pre-Lab:
1. The shape of a plant cell is ______; the shape of an animal cell is ______.
2. Plant cells have an extra, rigid layer called the ______.
3. Plant cells contain organelles called ______that enable the cells to make food using sunlight (= photosynthesis)
4. Mitochondria are important to all eukaryotic cells because they provide the cell with ______.
5. The Golgi body is used in the cell to ______.
6. The nucleolus is found ______.
7. Ribosomes produce ______.
Hypothesis: I think that the main visible difference between plant and animal cells is: ______
Materials:
Selected plant and animal specimens
Microscope
Lens paper
Glass slide and coverslip
Procedure:
1. After reading the background information and completing all pre-lab questions, carefully get a microscope and take it to your seat.
2. Tear off a small piece of lens paper and clean your eyepiece, objectives, and slides.
3. Obtain a plant or animal specimen (living or preserved) and examine it under low power. DRAW.
* Are organelles visible at this magnification? Why or why not?
* If so, which organelles are visible?
* Can you recognize this specimen as plant or animal from this view? Why/why not?
4. Now, switch the magnification to medium power. The total magnification using this objective is ______X.
* How do the organelles change?
* Are any new organelles visible?
* Can you identify what you are seeing? Refer to your cell diagrams for help.
5. Switch your microscope to high power (remember to only focus using the fine adjustment knob on high power). The total magnification using this objective is ______X. DRAW.
* How much detail is visible on this power?
* How many different organelles are visible?
* Why are some organelles not visible even under high power?
6. For each specimen you study, record a colored, labeled, accurately described data page on both LOW and HIGH powers. Refer to your labeled cell diagrams to label the details you see within the cells.
Include detailed descriptions – you may answer some of the “*” questions in this section.
7. When lab is complete, return your microscope and all supplies to the appropriate places and clean up your lab station.
8. Answer the post-lab analysis questions and write a Power Conclusion, reflecting upon your hypothesis and comparing the organelles present in plant and animal cells.
Data Analysis A:
Complete the data table below by identifying at least three (3) DIFFERENCES between plant and animal cells and at least 3 SIMILARITIES that both of these cell types have in common.
Animal Cells / Plant Cells1.
2.
3. / 1.
2.
3.
Data Analysis B:
Comparison: Cell organelles visible in today’s lab vs. cell organelles not able to be seen:
Organelles Visible / Organelles Not VisiblePost-Lab Analysis Questions:
1. Which microscope objective provided the best view of the cell organelles? ______
2. Explain your reasoning for the answer you provided in #1: ______
______
3. A “mystery” cell is observed and it contains mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, a nucleus, and a large central vacuole. What cell type is this cell? ______
List 2 other unique organelles that would be found in this cell type. ______
______
4. Why do plant cells need a cell wall? ______
______
5. Why do animal cells lack chloroplasts? ______
______
6. Compare and contrast the mitochondria and chloroplasts. Consider structure and function. ______
______
7. How do cells remove wastes? ______
______
8. Rank the organelles listed below according to their importance in the cell. Defend your decision with an explanation. List: vacuole, nucleus, Golgi body, mitochondria, cell membrane, lysosome (1 = most important, 6 = least important). ______
______
9. Does color play a role in cell identification? ______Why and/or how? ______
______
10. Predict what would happen to a cell if all of the mitochondria were removed. ______
______
11. The lipid bilayer is a complex organelle embedded with proteins. Identify and explain the three types of proteins and give an example of how they may be used in the cell.
Protein Type / Explanation / Example of use in the cell12. Was the cell membrane visible in today’s cells? ______Were phospholipids within the lipid bilayer visible in today’s cells? ______Why is there a difference between these two answers? Explain. ______
______
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Organelle Observations: Cell Lab 1