Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells
Guiding Questions:
What are the three
ideas of the cell
theory?
The Cell Theory states that:
1. _______________________________________________________________
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2. _______________________________________________________________
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3. _______________________________________________________________
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What type of
organism is a
prokaryote?
Characteristics of Prokaryotic Cells (prokaryotes)
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What are some key
characteristics of
prokaryotic cells?
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___________________________________
 ___________________________________
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Characteristics of Eukaryotic Cells (eukaryotes)
What type of
organisms are
eukaryotes?
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_________________________________
 _________________________________
What are some key
characteristics of
eukaryotic cells?
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The rate of cell division is very different between prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Bacteria cells can divide every 20
minutes whereas human skin cells take about a day to divide and human liver cells take a year. Why do you think
prokaryotic cells are able to divide so much faster than eukaryotic cells?
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Testing for cell type:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Prepare a wet mount of your cheek cells.
Stain your cheek cells with methylene blue using the paper towel technique.
Observe your cheek cells under high power and record your observations in the data table.
Prepare a wet mount of onion skin.
Stain the onion skin with iodine using the paper towel technique.
Observe the onion skin under high power and record your observations in the data table.
Prepare a wet mount of a small section of elodea leaf with water and view under high power.
Observe the elodea leaf under high power and record your observations in the data table.
Nucleus
Visible
Cell
Membrane
Visible
Cytoplasm
Visible
Cell Wall
Visible
Chloroplasts
Visible
Prokaryotic Cell or
Eukaryotic Cell?
Cheek
Cells
Onion
Cells
Elodea
Cells
CLEAN-UP:
 Dispose of all used microscope slides in the plastic container located in your sink
 Dispose of all tissue paper scraps and paper towel scraps into the plastic container in your sink
 Place caps back onto dropper bottles, place dropper bottles near the edge of the sink
 Rotate your microscope to low power
HONORS: coil up the wire around the bottom of the scope and place it back in the cabinet you got it from
REGENTS: shut off the light and place the dust cover over the microscope