Lab Report

            Purpose: To understand how cells function and how they are involved in all the characteristics of life. You will see what some cells from a multi-cellular look like under a microscope. You will also compare the organization of cells from organisms.
             Hypothesis: I think all the cells will be different sizes, shapes, and colors.
             Pre-Lab Part A: .
             1. So you only see one cell instead of many on top of each other.
             2. It isn't flat.
             3. Cell wall- protects the cell.
             Plasma membrane- boundary between cell and environment.
             Nucleolus- makes ribosomes.
             Chloroplast- captures light.
             Cytoplasm- clear gelatinous fluid.
             Pre-Lab Part B: .
             1. Shape.
             2. Cell wall and chloroplast.
             3. Iodine.
             4. High Magnification.
             Materials:.
             Onion.
             Prepared plant cell.
             Toothpick.
             Microscope.
             Slide.
             Cover slip.
             Iodine.
             Forceps.
             Salt Solution.
             Paper Towel.
             Procedure:.
             1) Take a paper thin piece of onion off.
             2) Take a small piece off the paper thin piece.
             3) Examine with low and high power then sketch.
             4) Draw it 3-D.
             5) Label parts of the cell.
             6) Use a drop of salt solution and locate the plasma membrane.
             7) Look at plant cell and sketch.
             8) Scrape side of cheek with toothpick, add iodine, then sketch.
             9) Label cell structures.
             Analysis: .
             1. Cell wall.
             2. The plasma membrane is very small and stains the same color as the cell and since they are attached they are very hard to see.
             3. It stained the cell so you could see it better.
             4. Organization.
             Conclusion: My conclusion was partly right. The plant cell had a blue tint, but the other two cells were stained so you really couldn't tell their true colors. All three of the cells were different sizes and shapes though. I learned that all cells have different structures, but some parts can be found in both plant and animal cells. We did make an error in the process of the lab. The salt solution was to weak so we couldn't find and label the plasma membrane. I can learn more on cell types and structures by doing more investigation in the biology textbooks or reading up on cells on the Internet.