See.

: Name: _

Experiment: Differences Between Animal and

Plant Cells (S. Science 10-7-2b)

Purpose: To observe the differences of animal

and plant cells under the microscope.

Materials: laser disk of Elodea leaf

microscope slides cover glass
medicine dropper colored pencils
human cheek cells toothpick
methylene blue

Safety: Methylene blue is dangerous

Methods: Part A: Plant Cell

1. Prepare a wet mount of an Elodea leaf, use the
whole leat
2. Examine the leaf under the low power of the microscope, then select a portion of
the leaf where the cells are particularly distinct. Center this portion in the microscope
field.
3. Bring it into focus under high power. Use the fine adjustment to observe the cells at
various depths. In which layer are the widest cells located?
4.. Observe the small, oval, green bodies that appear in the plant cells. These are the
chloroplasts. Chloroplasts are green in color because they contain chlorophyiL
Chlorophyll is an important chemical needed for photosynthesis. Are any of the
chloroplasts moving?
5. In the results section A (on the back side of the lab), draw some cells of an EjodE-~~J
leaf. Use arrows to indicate the direction of chloroplasts movement. Label ym'f
drawing indicating the cell wall, chloroplasts, cytoplasm, and nucleus.

Part B: Animal cells

1. Gently scrape the inside of your cheek with a clean toothpick. Prepare a \flet mount
of the material that you have scraped from your cheek.
2. Add a drop of methylene blue and a cover glass.
Examine the cells under low power of the microscope.
3. Switch to high power. Carefully look for the outer edge
of the cytoplasm. How does it compare with the outer edge
of the Elodea cells?
4. In results part 8 draw a single cheek cell (high power)
and label the plasma membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus.

Flesu/ts:
Part A: Plant Cell Part B: Animal cells
3. layer? _ compare: _
4. moving? _
 See.: ~~ __ Name: _

x x
Part A: Elodea (plant) ceffs Part B: Human (animal) ceff

Conclusions:
1. If you saw movement, are all the chloroplasts moving in the same direction?

2. Are they all moving at the same speed?

3. Can you observe any other structures for movement?

4. Explain how the ch!oroplasts move.

5. What is the outer edge of the cheek cell called?

6. Describe the shape of the cheek cell.

7. Why did we neeq to use methylene blue in this investigation?

8. Describe the appearance of the cytoplasm.

Discussion:
1. In what ways do Elodea cells differ from human cheek cells?

2. What is the function of the chloroplasts?

3. Why are chloroplasts green in color?

4. Do cheek cells contain chloroplasts?

5. Are both plants and animals composed of cells?

6. Discuss the similarities of plant and animal cells.

7. Discuss the differences between plant and animal cells.

8. As we make the differences between plant and animal cells. Let's keep in mind
how we as humans are in the animal kingdom but different than animals. Read Gen.
1:26, James 3:9. What is a very important difference between us and animals?