Name: Ahmad Abdulkadir Arabi

American University of Nigeria

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY

BIO120 LAB 4

CELL STRUCTURE AND

FUNCTIONS
Abstract:
The goal of this experiment is to conduct cell observation and analysis.
A compound microscope was utilized to observe stained onion cells and 
cheek cells in this experiment. By observing both plant and animal cell
through the compound light microscope, specific observations were made 
to determine whether cells are prokaryotic and eukaryotic as a result of
the experiment.
Introduction:
Because they undertake all of the actions that we collectively refer to as "
life," cells are considered the fundamental unit of living beings.
Despite their differences in structure, practically all individual cells are
generally similar and share fundamental traits, which can only be seen 
with the use of a microscope.
Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cells are the two primary types of cells; the
major difference between the two is that prokaryotic cells lack
membrane-bound organelles, such as the nucleus, whereas eukaryotes do.
Bacteria and cyanobacteria (the largest prokaryotes) are prokaryotes.
Animals, plants, fungus, and protists are all eukaryotes.
In this experiment, the fleshy leaf of a red onion was examined under a 
microscope to see the structure of the plant cell.
In eukaryotes, there are two types of cells: animal and plant cells. 
Plant cells have a cell wall, cell membrane, nucleus, and huge vacuole,
but animal cells lack these features. And also, the cheek cell was also
observed under the compound microscope to see the structure of the
animal cell 
These were inspected in order to determine whether they were prokaryote
or eukaryote.
Materials:
o Compound microscope
o Toothpick
o Glass slide
o Coverslip
o Iodine solution
o Cheek cell (Human epithelial cell )
o Onion (leafy part)
o knife

Methods:
Procedure 2.5: In this experiment, we examined how the structure of an
onion cell is formed. Starting with, red onions were cut into eight slices
then the fleshy leaf was removed, the thin piece of the inner epidermis
was removed. And the inner epidermal tissue was placed on a glass slide
some drop of water was added on it. The cover slip was covered on the
glass slide together with the fleshy leaf then an iodine solution was
stained on it and the tissue was examined on a compound microscope.
Begin by looking through the 4x objective lens at the cell sample, and
then examine the cell sample again with 10x and 40x objective lenses.
And notes were written down for the each view.
Results:
Detailed observations of the onion cell are shown below;

Note: The observed onion cell are shown according to the objective
lenses mentioned above respectively.
Procedure 4.8: This procedure dealt with observing the structure and
form of an animal cell (cheek cell). It was deducted by gently scraping of
the epithelial cell with toothpick which is found in the inner surface of
the mouth in the walls of the cheek, in humans. After scraping the cheek
lining, the sample was placed on the glass slide with a drop of water and
iodine. After it has been collected, then it was covered with a coverslip.
And then the cell sample was placed on the stage correctly.The sample
was viewed by looking through the 4x objective lens then it was
examined again with 10x and 40x objective lenses.
Results:
Below are the detailed structure of an animal cell ( cheek cell) viewed in
the above objective lenses in procedure 4.8 respectively;
Conclusion:
In this experiment, the various architecture of the cells were researched a
nd well comprehended. Each cell may be seen and compared to others.
The cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus are all visible .
Questions & Answers:
Question 9
a. What cellular structures of onion are more easily seen in stained as
compared to unstained preparations?
o Structures that are more easily seen in stained onions as
compared to unstained onions include the nuclei, vacuole,
and the cell wall.
b. Which of the available stains enhanced your observations the most?
o Out of the stains that I attempted, I would have to say that
the 0.1% neutral red stain enhanced my observations the
most.
c. Do onion cells have chloroplasts? Explain?
o No, onions do not have chloroplast, because of the
way that it is harvested the actual onion grows
beneath the ground, while a plant like structure grows
out of it. this plant like structure contains the
chloroplasts necessary to produce photosynthesis,
which helps the onion grow underground.
d. Use an ocular micrometer or the dimensions 4.3?
o The dimensions of an onion epidermal cell are about
(L) 0.33 mm x (W) 0.05 mm // (L) 330 mm x (W) 50
mm.