Lab 1: Cell Structure and How to Use a Microscope

What is a cell?
- The basic unit of life
- Hierarchy of life: atomsmoleculesstructurescelltissuesorgansorgan
systemorganism

The Cell Theory

- Schleiden & Schwan (1838-1839)
- All cells must come from other cells
Reproduction
- Viruses are not cells, not alive
What happens inside?
- Ideal environment for chemical reactions
Metabolism
Catabolism breaking down molecules into smaller molecules
Anabolism small molecules become bigger molecules
Kinds of Cells
- 2 kinds of cells
Prokaryotic bacteria, archaea; karyon = nucleus
Prokaryotic before nucleus i.e. no nucleus
Cell wall around No compartmental organelles; open sac
DNA floating inside
Ribosomes
Some have locomotary parts (flagella)
Eukaryotic
Nucleus; eu = true, eukaryotic = true nucleus
Membrane bound organelles
All multicellular organisms
- Animals cells
No cell wall, so squishy
Endoplasmic reticulum
Mitochondria
Golgi apparatus
Centrometers protein tracks (not usually in plants)
- Plant cells
Central vacuole for storage and water balance
Rigid cell wall
How do we study cells?
- Microscopes
Magnification ability to enlarge
Resolving power clarity; ability to distinguish between two points
- Micrometers, mum
The objects seen under the microscope are measured in mum

1/1000th of a millimeter
Always include units!
Types of microscopes
- Light scopes light is passed through the specimen, then through lenses;
resolving power - .2 mum
- Electron scope uses bean of electrons instead of light; resolving power = .1
nanometers (.0001 mum)
Parts of your scope
- Condenser located below the stage, focuses light on the specimen; allows
control of resolving power
- Objectives allow for variance in magnification
4x scanning, 10x low, 40x high
Parcentric an object centered under one power will remain centered
when switching
- Parfocal focus is retained when switching lenses
- Field of view represents the area visible under a particular magnification
Specimens
- Euglena
- Homo sapien cheek cells
- Allium epidermis (onion)
- Elodea
Stains
- Bromophenol blue for protein
- Janus green for mitochondria

Lab 2: Cell Division

Mitosis and cytohinesis
o Mitosis is the division of a nucleus into 2 identical daughter nuclei
Preserves chromosome number (when duplicated, 2 chromatids)
Cytokinesis is the division of the cytoplasm and all its contents into new
daughter cells
Chromosome number
o Diploid cells contains 2 sets of chromosomes
o Haploid cells contain a single set of chromosomes
o Polyploidy cells have more than 2 sets of chromosomes
o A set of chromosomes is denoted by n
The diploid number is 2n
For humans, n = 23, so 2n = 2*23 = 46
The diploid number is 46
The cell cycle
o The cell cycle is the successive series of events in the life a cell
o S phase cell is committed to undergo mitosis
o Interphase late G2
Nuclear envelope is well defined

 Centrioles duplicate in animal cells (in centrosomes)

Centriole function is unknown, and has no real function in cell division
o Mitotic phase
Cell division
Mitosis and cytokinesis
1) prophase chromatin condenses into distinct chromosomes;
centrioles move towards poles; mitotic spindle forms; nucleolus
disappears
Prometaphase nuclear envelop breaks down; microtubules extend
from centriole at poles
2) metaphase chromosomes are aligned at equilateral plane
(metaphase plate)
3) anaphase sister chromatids separate; one set of chromosomes
moves toward each pole
4) telophase and cytokinesis nuclear envelops form around
chromosome at poles; cell pinches at metaphase plate, cleavage
furrow forms; plants vesicles align at furrow to form a new cell
wall
Lab 6: Algal Protists and Fungi
Sexual reproduction
o Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of special cells, gametes
Gametes are usually haploid, fusing to form a new diploid individual
The reduction in chromosome number (loss of a set) occurs through
meiosis
Mitosis vs. meiosis
o Mitosis is a division of a nucleus into 2 identical daughter cells
Chromosome number/ploidy is preserved
o Meiosis is a series of a consecutive nuclear divisions resulting in 4 daughter cells
with a reduced chromosome number
Ploidy is halved
Daughter cells are not identical