Animal Cell and Plant Cell comparison lab : Do all drawings and any written work on your own paper. Do
not write on this Lab sheet.
Background info: READ in your group before you begin the lab activity.
I.
II.
Cells: All living things are made of cells. Two types of eukaryotic cells ( cells with a nucleus)
are Animal Cells and Plant Cells. Animal and Plant cells have many tiny organelles inside
them. We can see some of these organelles with a compound light microscope. When
viewing animal and plant cells, The main differences are: ANIMAL CELLS HAVE AN OUTER
CELL MEMBRANE ONLY. PLANT CELLS HAVE A CELL WALL AS THE OUTER LAYER AND A CELL
MEMBRANE AS THE INNER LAYER. PLANT CELLS ALSO HAVE CHLOROPLASTS WHICH
CONTAIN THE GREEN PIGMENT CHLOROPHYLL. WHICH HELP THEM CONVERT SUNLIGHT
INTO ENERGY DURING PHOTOSYNTHESIS BECAUSE PLANT CELLS MAKE THEIR OWN FOOD.
ANIMAL CELLS DEPEND ON OTHER SOURCES FOR FOOD. ANIMAL CELLS DO NOT MAKE
THEIR OWN FOOD.
Using the microscope for this lab: after preparing a wet mount slide for each cell according
to the procedure below, you will place the slide on the stage, turn on the light, and view
each cell under low power. Focus with the course adjustment knob on low power only. Do
not move to high power unless instructed to do so. I need to view your cell before you begin
drawing and labeling organelles.
Lab :
Question: How is the animal cell different from the plant cell?
Hypothesis: ( Answer the question above based on what you think before the lab.)
Use the I think… because…. Way to answer .
Procedure:
Wet mount animal cell:
One group member should gently roll a tooth pick on the inside of his/her cheek to collect
cheek cells. This does NOT mean collect salivia ! Gently rub the tooth pick in the center of
your slide and leave it in that spot until Ms. Mitchell can place a drop of bromethanol blue
stain on the slide. Place a coverslip over the spot of stain slowly from left to right to prevent
air bubbles from forming under the cover slip.
Place your slide on the stage and view it under low power. Uder your hypothesis, make a
section labeled DATA Trace a circle with the cup provided to use as your field of view. Draw
the cheek cell. Only draw ONE cell. You will have several in your field of view but only draw
one cell. Neatly label the cell membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus . Use straight lines and
label write your words outside the area of the field of view. Under your drawing write the
total magnification for the cheek cell under low power.
Wet Mount Plant cell:
Use your other slide. Use the sample of the potatoe to make a wet mount slide. Follow all
the same directions above for the the cheek cell. Also follow all the directions for drawing
your field of view and the parts of the plant cell. In addition to the cell membrane , nucleus,
and cytoplasm, also label the cell membrane. Only Draw one cell even though you will see
many cells.
Data questions : Answer the following questions under your drawings of the animal and
plant cell.
1. How do the animal and plant cell look different under low power? Describe traits like
color, shape, size…
2. How do the animal and plant cell look the same under low power? Describe traits like
color, shape, size
3. Why did each cell sample have to be stained?
4. What do you think would happen to the RESOLUTION of each cell if you attempted to
view it under high power?
Conclusion:
After completing the lab , doing your drawings, and answering your data questions, write your
conclusion about the original question in 3 sentences.