EXPERIMENT 2.

1
STRUCTURES OF ANIMAL CELLS AND PLANT CELLS
Aim

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Problem statement
cells?

: what are the structures of animal cells and plant

Materials

: onion, iodine solution, distilled water, methylene blue solution,

toothpick and filter paper
Apparatus : slides, cover slips, scalpel, forceps, dropper, mounting needle and
light microscope.

Procedure :
1. Prepare a slide of epidermal cells from an onion using the following steps.
a) Use a scalpel to cut a piece of onion scale measuring 1 cm x 1 cm.
b) Use a pair of forceps to strip the epidermis layer.
c) Mount it on a slide with a drop of water.
d) Cover the slide with a cover slip and observe it under a light microscope.
2. Put a drop of Iodine solution on one side of the cover slip. Put a piece of
filter paper at the opposite side of the cover slip to draw the iodine solution
in to stain the cells,
3. Observe the slide again under a light microscope.
4. Draw and label your observation
5. Prepare another slide of animal cell, scrape the inside of the cheek with a
clean toothpick and mount it on a slide with a drop of methylene blue
solution.
6. Draw and label your observation through a microscope.
Observation:

epidermal cells of an onion

Cheek cells

Discussion :
1. What is the effect of iodine solution on the epidermal cells of an onion ?
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2. What is the function of methylene blue solution in the preparation of the
cheek cells slide?
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3. If iodine solution is used to stain cheek cells, what will be observed? Give
your reason
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4. Based on your observations, state the differences between the epidermal
cells of an onion and the cheek cells.
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Conclusion :
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