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?
Organelle Observations: Cell Lab 1
1
Name: _______________________________
Date: ________________
Block: _____________
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 Cells
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
Similarities
1.
2.
3.
4.
Data Analysis B:
Comparison: Cell organelles visible in today’s lab vs. cell organelles not able to be seen:
Organelles Visible
Organelle Observations: Cell Lab 1
Organelles Not Visible
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Name: _______________________________
Date: ________________
Block: _____________
Post-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). ____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Organelle Observations: Cell Lab 1
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Name: _______________________________
Date: ________________
Block: _____________
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 cell
12. 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. ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Organelle Observations: Cell Lab 1
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