The Cell Lab Assignment
Living things can either be single-celled (prokaryote) or multicellular (eukaryote). Prokaryotes are single-celled living organisms that do not have membrane-bound organelles in them. Eukaryotes are found in multicellular living things, and their organelles are membrane-bound. Some of the multicellular important organelles include mitochondria, golgi apparatus, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum and lysosomes (Cobb 109).
Hypothesis
- Plasmodesmata in plants are used in transportation and in connecting different parts of the cell because they are elongated and seem to connect differently shaped cells.
- I think that there are many plasmodesmata connecting the different cell organelles for proper communication between the different cell organelles.
- I think that onion cells do not have a chloroplast because they do not make their own food under direct sunlight (they grow underground) (Orchard & Nation, 2014).
Materials and methods
A Microscope, slides, cover slides and a few blades would be required for this series of experiments. An onion bulb (s) would also be required.
Onion bulb
An onion was cut into four pieces and a fleshy leaf had the thinner piece of its epidermis removed. The tissue was placed on a drop of water on a slide and a cover slide placed on it. Neutral res was placed on the edge of the slip and allowed to penetrate into the tissue for about 5- 10 minutes. The slide was then placed on the microspore for viewing while trying to focus on the vacuoles.
Examination of amoeba, paramecium and sporigyra
A small ring of methylcellulose was placed on a microscope slide with the purpose of slowing down the paramecium, and then the culture with paramecium placed on the slide. A toothpick was used to mix the contents and a cover slide placed over it.
Observations were made and one could observe hair like structures (cilia) which are used for locomotion.
Works cited
Cobb, Allan. Cell Theory. New York: Chelsea House. 2011, Print.
Orchard, Guy and Brian Nation. Cell Structure & Function. Oxford: Oxford University
Press. 2014, print.