Biology 112
Plant & Animal Cells
Name: _____________________________
Date: _______________
Purpose: To examine plant and animal cells under the compound light microscope and
identify visible organelles.
Pre-lab Questions
1. Label the following diagrams of animal and plant cells.
2. What structures are found in plant cells but not found in animal cells?
3. Explain the difference between the terms cytoplasm and the cytosol.
4. What are 4 main differences between animal cells and plant cells?
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Hypothesis: Predict what you will be able to see if you are observing plant and animal cells
under a compound light microscope.
Method: Plant Cells
1. Obtain a small piece of onion from the container on your bench.
2. Using forceps, peel a small piece of onion epithelium from your sample and place it on
your slide.
3. Place a small drop of iodine (which is a stain) on your sample and then place your cover
slip on top.
4. Observe under high power and create a biological diagram in the results section to
represent what you see.
5. Label any organelles and structures that you can see.
6. Obtain a small piece of the plant provided by your teacher and prepare a normal wet
mount for this specimen.
** You will have to scrape the surface of the leaf in order to prepare your slide**
7. Observe under high power and create a biological diagram in the results section to
represent what you see.
8. Label any organelles and structures that you can see.
Method: Animal Cells
1. Obtain a prepared slide of red blood smear.
2. Observe under high power and create a biological diagram in the results section to
represent what you see.
3. Label any organelles and structures that you can see.
Discussion Questions:
1. Compare and contrast the cellular structures that can be observed under high and low
power in a typical cell.
2. What sort of evidence do you look for when using a microscope to determine if a cell is
an animal or plant cell? What evidence do you see that an onion cell is a plant cell?
3. Explain how the onion cell is different from the typical plant cell.
4. Why are there no chloroplasts in onion epidermal cells? (Hint: Think of how onions grow?
5. Although we refer to red blood cells as cells, why are they not considered true cells?
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Results: