Types of Cells Lab Name ________________________
Biology 1 Honors
Purpose: The purpose of this lab is to use a microscope to compare plant and animals cell structure, as well as
to observe how they are different from prokaryotic cells under the microscope
Materials: Microscope, slides, cover slips, elodea leaf (1 thin specimen), drop of water, prepared cheek cell
slides, prepared bacteria slides
Procedure:
A. The plant cells viewed will be from an elodea leaf. To view this properly:
1. Take a thin piece of leaf off of the stem and lay it flat on a slide.
2. Drop one drop of water on the leaf and CAREFULLY lower the small plastic coverslip onto the leaf until it is
flat
3. Bring stage all the way up
4. Bring the leaf into focus using the scanning power objective and slowly lower the stage
5. You should see rows of green, brick-like structures. Remember to use the fine adjustment knob to get
specimen as clear as possible
6. Once leaf cells are in focus, bring to low power and then focus it, and then bring it to the highest power and
focus it once more
7. Draw what you see IN COLOR.
(1) Title the drawing Plant Cells Under High Power
(2) Include the total magnification observed
(3) Identify, point to, and label all organelles identified (should be 2)
B. Now observe one prepared cheek cell slide
1. Observe under low power first and bring into focus (make sure stage starts out all the way at the top and
slowly lower it until specimen comes into focus)
2. Once the specimen is fully focused, bring to the next highest power objective and focus again. Then bring to
high power and focus.
3. (1) draw what you see IN COLOR.
(2) Title it Cheek (Animal) Cells Under High Power
(3) Include the total magnification observed
(4) Identify, point to, and label all organelles identified (Remember, dye stains DNA…) (should be 2)
C. Now observe one prepared bacteria slide
1. Observe under low power first and bring into focus (make sure stage starts out all the way at the top and
slowly lower it until specimen comes into focus)
2. Once the specimen is fully focused, bring to the next highest power objective and focus again. Then bring to
high power and focus.
3. Draw the bacteria cells on a third drawing and title it Bacteria Cells Under High Power.
D. Conclusion Questions: Using complete sentences, answer the following on a separate sheet of notebook
paper…
1. In what ways were the cheek cells and plant cells different? Describe at least two differences.
2. To what major category of cells do animal and plant cells like the ones we observed today belong?
3. Why were the plant cells green? What organelle contributes to making the cell green? What process is it
involved in?
4. What was the really dark blue center of the cheek cell? What is the function of this organelle?
5. How did the bacteria cells look different from the plant and/or animal cells under the microscope? Name at
least 2 differences.
6. To what major category of cells do bacteria belong? Describe three key facts about this type of cell
7. Even if we had a more powerful microscope, what organelles would still not be found in bacteria that are
present in eukaryotic cells?
