ANTIOCH'S DEPARTMENT

SECRETARY OF EDUCATION OF ANTIOQUIA

MUNICIPALITY OF SANTA ROSA DE OSOS
MARCO TOBÓN MEJÍA EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
“Teaching requires the conviction that change is possible” (Paulo Freire)
Dane code: 105686000385 NIT. 900371924-6

PRACTICE N° 1

AREA: Natural Sciences – TITLE: Observation of Plant Cells and Tissues

TEACHER: Juan Guillermo Urueta Sierra DEGREE: ___________ DATE: _____________
SURNAMES AND NAMES: _____________________________________________________________

OBJECTIVE: To become familiar with the use of the OPTICAL MICROSCOPE , exploring cells from different
plant tissues (onion and tomato) describing the main visible structures of the cells with the help of special dyes.

MATERIAL

 Microscope  Methylene blue

 Slide  Water
 Coverslip  PLANT TISSUES:
 Watch glass  Red onion.
 Eyebrow tweezers  Tomato.
 toothpicks  White onion

HOW ARE WE GOING TO DEVELOP IT?

EXPERIMENT 1: observe onion cells without dye.

1. Pay attention to the teacher's observations and explanations.

2. To observe onion cells, both red and white, first we remove a layer of onion and with the help of some
toothpicks and eyebrow tweezers we separate the epidermis (a thin, transparent layer that is found in the inner
part of each layer of the onion), we place it in a Watch Glass. Then, with the help of a scalpel we split a piece
of epidermis approximately 1cm 2 , and placed it on a slide, adding a couple of drops of water to moisten it,
removing excess water and finally covering the sample with a coverslip.

3. We place the slide with the sample on the microscope stage to begin the observation.
As always, we see the sample with different magnifications: (From lowest to highest magnification).

EXPERIMENT 2: observation of onion cells with Methylene Blue dye

1. Firstly, we cut a small piece of onion and with the help of a scalpel and tweezers we separate the epidermis,
a thin and transparent layer that is found in the inner part of each layer of the onion.

2. When we have the epidermis, we place it on a slide, add a couple of drops of methylene blue and let the dye
act for about five minutes.
 ANTIOCH'S DEPARTMENT
SECRETARY OF EDUCATION OF ANTIOQUIA
MUNICIPALITY OF SANTA ROSA DE OSOS
MARCO TOBÓN MEJÍA EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
“Teaching requires the conviction that change is possible” (Paulo Freire)
Dane code: 105686000385 NIT. 900371924-6

3. Once the five minutes have passed, we wash the sample on a container, being careful that the epidermis
does not fall when we pour the water on it. We dry the sample well so that the water does not hinder
observation under the microscope.

4. Once dry, we put the coverslip on top and place it on the microscope stage to begin the observation. As
always, we see the sample with different magnifications:
(From lowest to highest magnification).

EXPERIMENT 3: PROCEDURE FOR OBSERVING TOMATO CELLS

1. We cut the tomato in half and with a scalpel and a lot of patience we take a fine sample of the internal part of
the tomato.

2. We place the sample on a slide and press a little so that it loses as much water as possible and does not
make observation under the microscope difficult.
3. Now we proceed to the observation: we place the slide on the microscope stage and with different
magnifications we differentiate the cells and their different parts. (From lowest to highest magnification).

RESULTS: WHAT SHOULD YOU WATCH?

 ANTIOCH'S DEPARTMENT
SECRETARY OF EDUCATION OF ANTIOQUIA
MUNICIPALITY OF SANTA ROSA DE OSOS
MARCO TOBÓN MEJÍA EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
“Teaching requires the conviction that change is possible” (Paulo Freire)
Dane code: 105686000385 NIT. 900371924-6

The images below show some onion cells seen under a microscope at different magnifications stained with
methylene blue. The result of this practice should be similar to what the following photos obtained with an
optical microscope show:

The images below show some tomato cells seen under a microscope at different magnifications. This is how
their setups should be observed. The result of this practice should be similar to what the following photos
obtained with an optical microscope show:

RESULTS AND ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTS

1. Make drawings of the observed images.

 ANTIOCH'S DEPARTMENT
SECRETARY OF EDUCATION OF ANTIOQUIA
MUNICIPALITY OF SANTA ROSA DE OSOS
MARCO TOBÓN MEJÍA EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
“Teaching requires the conviction that change is possible” (Paulo Freire)
Dane code: 105686000385 NIT. 900371924-6

2. Briefly describe the shape of the cells of the epidermis of an onion and the cells of a tomato and what
structures you were able to observe.

4. Why is it sometimes necessary to add dye to the onion epidermis (membrane) sample?

4. The images observed in both the onion sample and the tomato sample can be considered a tissue. But
because?