LABORATOY MANUAL
IN BIO 1
CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
Laboratory Manual in Cell and Molecular Biology
Copyright:
This module is a property of ©Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and
Technology
All rights reserved. No part of this module may be reproduced or distributed in any
form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior
written permission of the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and
Technology.
Author:
ANNIE B. GONZALES, M.Sc.
Assistant Professor 1
College of Fisheries and Allied Sciences
BS Marine Biology Program
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BS Marine Biology Program
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Laboratory Manual in Cell and Molecular Biology
COURSE SPECIFICATION
Course
Name
Course
Credits
Course
Description
Contact
Hours/week
Pre-requisite
Co-requisite
Learning
Outcomes
Cell and Molecular Biology
4 units (3 units Lecture; 1 unit Laboratory)
This course covers discussions on cell, the basic unit of life.
Emphasis will be placed on the structural features of the different
cellular organelles, the connections of the cellular processes and the
importance of biomolecule properties for their control and regulation.
6 hours (3 hours Lecture; 3 hours Laboratory)
None
None
1. Identify and describe the different cellular organelles and
their function.
2. Explain the key concepts involved in the different cellular
processes.
3. Perform methods and technique used to study cellular
structures and their functions.
4. Design experiments that apply fundamental properties of cell
structure and function to relevant research problems.
CONTENT AND TIMELINE
Week 1
1. Laboratory Orientation
Week 2
2. Instrumentation
Week 3
3. Cell Structure and Function
Week 4-5
4. Microscopy
Week 6
5. Cell Staining
Week 7-8
6. Cell Counting
Week 9
Midterm Examination
Week 10-11
7. Pipettes and Pipetting
Week 12-15
8. DNA Extraction
Week 16
9. Mitosis (Onion Root Tip)
Week 17
Allotted to complete course requirements
Week 18
Final Term Examination
Reference:
Approved Outcome-Based Syllabus on Bio 1 (Cell and Molecular Biology) effective
August 2025
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Laboratory Manual in Cell and Molecular Biology
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
1
Title page
1
2
Copyright page
2
3
Course Specification
3
3
Introduction
4
Table of Contents
5
Laboratory Policies and Guidelines
6
Laboratory Activities
Instrumentation
Cell Structure and Function
Microscopy
Cell Staining
Cell Counting
Pipettes and Pipetting
Basic DNA Extraction
Mitosis (Onion Root Tip)
References
Annexes
Worksheets
Laboratory Forms
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Laboratory Manual in Cell and Molecular Biology
INTRODUCTION
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Laboratory Manual in Cell and Molecular Biology
Activity No. 1
INSTRUMENTATION
Introduction
Objectives
Reference
Materials
Procedure
Result/Observation
Questions
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Laboratory Manual in Cell and Molecular Biology
Activity No. 2
CELL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
Introduction
Cells are the basis, the foundation, the building block of living things, whether
you are an organism made of trillions of cells or just one. We have established that
cells come in two basic varieties: prokaryotic (bacteria) and eukaryotic (everything
besides bacteria). Among the eukaryotes, though, there is another division: plant
versus animal.
Objectives
At the end of the exercise, the learners must be able to:
1. Identify the different parts of a cell and determine their functions.
2. List the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
3. Contrast between plant and animal cell.
Reference
The following references are recommended but other biology books may also be
used.
1. Alberts, B; Johnson, A; Raff, M; Roberts, K; and Walter, P. Molecular Biology
of the Cell. 5th Edition 2007. Garland Science
2. Karp, Gerald. Cell and Molecular Biology Concepts and Experiments. 6 th
Edition. 2010. John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
3. Lodish, H; Berk, A; Kaiser, C; Krieger, M;Bretscher, A; Ploegh, H; Amon, A;
Scott, M; Molecular Biology. 7th Edition. 2012. W.H. Freeman.
Materials
Various supplies for cell miniature (to be provided by each group)
Pencil
Colored pens
Procedure
1. Form a group with 5 members.
2. Create 3 miniatures of a cell –prokaryotic, eukaryotic plant and animal cells.
3. Sketch the 3 types of cells in the box provided below.
4. Label the as many parts as you can, using the references above then write
the structure and description of the function in the table 1.1-1.3 below.
5. Using a Venn diagram, compare and contrast the structures between
prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells; between plant and animal cells.
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Laboratory Manual in Cell and Molecular Biology
Result/Observation
Figure 1.1 Structures and function of a prokaryotic, cell.
Table 1.1 Structures and Function of a Prokaryotic Cell
Structure
Description and Function
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Laboratory Manual in Cell and Molecular Biology
Table 1.2 Structures and Function of a Eukaryotic animal Cell.
Structure
Description and Function
Table 1.2 Structures and Function of a Eukaryotic animal Cell.
Structure
Description and Function
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Laboratory Manual in Cell and Molecular Biology
Figure 1.2 Venn diagram of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
Figure 1.3 Venn diagram of animal and plant cells.
Questions
1. Discuss the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell.
2. Which structures are common to both cell types?
3. Which parts of the cell are involved with protein production and what role does
each part play?
4. Discuss the difference between an animal and plant cell.
5. How did eukaryotic cells evolve?
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Laboratory Manual in Cell and Molecular Biology
Activity No. 3
MICROSCOPY
Introduction
One of the indispensable tools of biologist in observing and proving the
structural basis of life is the microscope. This consists of a system of lenses and
appropriate mechanical fixtures for focusing and observing live or stained specimens.
A compound microscope has several parts. Found at the base is the light source
which consists either of a mirror or a high intensity bulb, a lens system and an
adjustable field diagram or field iris that controls the size of the illuminated field of view.
Light from the source passes to the condenser, an adjustable lens system that directs
the objective. Under is an iris diaphragm which controls the diameter of the light
entering the condenser. The two lens systems objectives are designed to produce a
real image of the specimen whereas the oculars produce a virtual image which may
observed visually or a real image that can be projected to a screen.
Objectives
At the end of the exercise, the learners must be able to:
1. Identify the parts of a microscope and determine their functions;
2. Properly align the lenses of a compound microscope;
3. Calibrate a microscope and accurately measure the size of various cells.
References:
The following references are recommended but other biology books may also be
used.
Materials
Compound Microscope
Prepared slides
Stage micrometer
Ocular micrometer
Procedure
A. Parts and functions of a microscope
1. In your worksheet, label the parts of a compound microscope and write the
description and function of the corresponding parts.
B. Microscope lenses alignment
1. Carefully focus the 10x objective on any prepared slide.
2. Raise condenser to its highest position and close the field diaphragm.
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Laboratory Manual in Cell and Molecular Biology
3. Slowly lower the condenser until the edges of the field diaphragm appear
sharp in the image field.
4. Using the centering screws, bring the image of the field diaphragm to the
center and open it until the entire field of view is completely illuminated.
5. Close the iris diaphragm.
6. Remove the eyepiece from the tube and look into the objective aperture.
Slowly open the iris diaphragm until the objective aperture is fully
illuminated.
7. Insert the eyepiece back into the tube.
8. Examine the prepared slides. Sketch the viewed microorganisms in the
box and label.
C. Microscope Size Calibration
NOTE: The unit of length used to measure cells is micrometer (µm). This is
equal to 1/1000 of a millimeter. A scale called ocular micrometer is used to
measure cells. This, however, must be first calibrated using a stage micrometer.
1. Focus on a stage micrometer using a 10x objective.
2. 2. Replace an ordinary eyepiece
with an ocular micrometer and
superimpose the two scales.
3. Place a drop of oil on the stage micrometer and switch to the oil immersion
objective.
4. Line up the end lines on the stage and ocular micrometers.
5. Find another line (as far from the endline is possible) on the ocular that
coincides with one on the stage.
6. Count the number of ocular spaces equivalent the number of stage spaces
between the coincident lines at both ends.
7. Calculate the calibration constant of the microscope with oil immersion
objective as follows:
Calibration constant (µm/div.) =
No. of stage micrometers
No. of Ocular divisions
Where, No. of stage micrometers = No. of stage divisions x 10µm
8. Record the calibration. With calibrated ocular micrometer in place, focus on
the specimen to be measured.
9. Measure the length and width of the microorganisms in the slides and record
the average dimensions. Record your dimensions in the table below.
Results/Observation
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Laboratory Manual in Cell and Molecular Biology
A. Parts and Functions
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Laboratory Manual in Cell and Molecular Biology
No.
1
Specimen/Microorganism
Average Length
Average Width
2
3
4
5
Questions:
1. Define resolving power of a microscope?
2. What is numerical aperture of a lens?
3. Draw the path of light in a compound microscope indicating how an image is
form.
Additional questions for A and C.
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Laboratory Manual in Cell and Molecular Biology
Activity No. 5
CELL COUNTING
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Laboratory Manual in Cell and Molecular Biology
Activity No. 4
CELL STAINING
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Laboratory Manual in Cell and Molecular Biology
Activity No. 6
PIPETTES AND PIPETTING
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Laboratory Manual in Cell and Molecular Biology
Activity No. 7
DNA EXTRACTION
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Laboratory Manual in Cell and Molecular Biology
Activity No. 8
MITOSIS AND MEIOSIS
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Laboratory Manual in Cell and Molecular Biology
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