PLANT AND ANIMAL SPECIMENS’ MICROSCOPY

Datiles, Van Chester

Espiloy, Emerson III
Mirabete, Chenry Gaile
Pili, Aja Sophia

Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics

Legazpi City Science High School
Bitano, Legazpi City, Albay
DATE PERFORMED: July 31, 2019

ABSTRACT
The experiment showed the significance of the microscope that
identified the analogousness and distinctiveness in terms of the present
organelles in the given samples of both plant and animal cell. Plant cells are
eukaryotic cells that are the basic unit of life of the organisms within the
plant kingdom. It has organelles that animal cells does not have, like
chloroplast that absorb sunlight and use it in conjunction with water and
carbon dioxide gas to produce food for the plant, cell wall that gives the
cells’ strength and structure, and filters molecules that pass in and out of the
cell, and a large central vacuole stores water and maintains turgor pressure.
Animal cells are also eukaryotic cells having a nucleus and other membrane-
bound organelles with various functions such as producing hormones and
enzymes to providing energy. By the means of observing in the microscope
at scanner, low power, and high power magnification, the researchers were
able to take a closer look at what was inside the sample specimens, such as
onion (Allium cepa), santan leaf (Ixora coccinea), elodea leaf (Elodea
canadensis), stem of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), sperm cell
(Spermatozoa), and cheek cell (Squamous Epithelium).

identifying its organelles and

INTRODUCTION
The conducted experiment was
performed using a compound and
digital microscope as tool for
spotting the organelles inside the
cell of the given specimens. That
managed the researchers to the
identification of the similarities and
differences between a plant cell
and an animal cell. That also paved
way for the researchers to gather
new data and knowledge about the
functions and behavior of the cells.
The sole purpose of the
experiment was to demonstrate
and observe the organelles present
in the given samples using a
compound and digital microscope.
As well as, to distinguish the
similarities and differences among
the given specimens by means of
defining its functions.
The researchers found out
certain uniqueness between the
plant cell and the animal cell in
terms of their respective shapes
(animal cell - round and irregular,
plant cell - rectangular), structure
(both eukaryotic cell), organelles
( animal cell – centrosome and
lysosome, plant cell – cell wall,
large central vacuole, chloroplast,
and other centralized plastids), and
movement (elodea leaf –
cytoplasmic streaming, sperm cell –
sperm motility). As well as, the
significance of the cell of the
specimen samples to function as
the basic unit for the organisms to
live.
METHODS AND MATERIALS
I. MATERIALS
PREPARATIONS
The experiment stated
with the preparation of the
materials needed. First thing
the researchers did was to
sanitize the laboratory table
with a sanitizer and a tissue
for the possible bacteria to
be eliminated. Second was
the wearing of the PPE
(Personal Protective
Equipment) such as gloves,
face masks, lab coats, and
eye glasses for safety
measures. Third was the
setting up of the materials
needed for the experiment
like stem of cotton, hydrilla
(elodea leaf), onion bud,
semen, iodine solution,
epithelial cell, dropper,
alcohol, soap, tissue,
compound microscope,
dissection toolkit, glass plate,
vial, and glass slide.
II. COMPOUND
MICROSCOPE SET-UP
To find out the structure and
organelles of the cell of the sample
specimens, the researchers use a
compound microscope. It was
placed in an area where the is an
artificial source of light, and was
then supported by a 15x
magnification eyepiece for greater
resolution, and plane mirror for the
reflection of the artificial light that
was the key for finding the
objectives.
III. SANTAN LEAF (Ixora
coccinea)
The experiment of santan
leaf cell was done by peeling a
translucent part of the back of its
leaf using the dissection toolkit.
The peeled part of the leaf was
then placed in a glass plate and
gently covered by a glass slide,
avoiding air bubbles. Then was
placed in the compound
microscope and was observed
using the scanner, low power
magnification, and high power
magnification.
IV. ONION BUD (Allium
cepa)
The experiment started by
cutting a translucent piece of the
inside of the onion bud. Then
placed the peeled piece inside a
glass plate, then covered it with a
glass slide. Gentle covering of the
glass slide was very vital in order
to remove the air bubbles that
might distort the image of the cell
in the microscope. The sample was
placed inside the stage clips,
aligning to aperture. Finally, a 15x
eyepiece was used to operate the
microscope, looking at the scanner,
low power, and high power.
V. ELODEA LEAF (Elodea
canadensis)
Cutting the leaf of elodea
with a scissors was the first thing
the researchers did. Following the
same procedures in the previous
specimens, the researchers place it
in a glass plate and was then
covered with a glass slide. Then
was placed in the microscope for
observation and gathering of data
though the scanner, low power and
high power.
 DATA INTERPRETATION
VI. SPERM CELL
(Spermatozoa)
Onion
epidermis
cell in
The sperm cell was first scanner
sealed inside a vial for lens
preservation, and then removed
using a dropper. I was then placed
in a glass plate with just a small
amount, covered it with a glass
slide. And was observed using a
compound microscope. Onion
epidermis
cell in
scanner
VII. CHEEK CELL
lens
(Epithelial cell)
To obtain a cheek cell, a
toothpick was used to remove it in
the mouth of a fellow researcher,
specifically at the inside of the
cheek. Once the cheek cell was Onion
obtained, the researchers then epidermis
placed it in the glass plate adding a cell in High
drop of iodine solution for more Power
visibility inside the microscope. Objective
Covered it with a glass slide. And
was observed in the microscope
using the scanner, low power, and
high power magnification.

VIII. STEM OF COTTON Santan

X.S. (Gossypium leaves in
hirsutum) scanner
lens
Cutting a stem of cotton
through the use of scissors was the
first action the researchers did.
After it, the specimen was placed in
a glass plate and added a drop of
methylene also known as
methylthionine chloride, the serves
as a color for the cell to be more
visible in the microscope. Then
covered again with a glass slide. It
was finally observed though the
scanner, low power, and high
power magnification.
Santan Elodea in
leaves in Scanner
Low Power lens
Objective

Elodea in
Low Power
Objective
Santan
leaves in
High Power
Objective

Elodea in
High Power
Objective

Sperm
cell in
Scanner
lens
Stem of
Cotton in
Scanner
lens

Stem of
Cotton in
High Power
Sperm Objective
cell in
Low
Power
Objective
Cheek cell
in Scanner
lens
Sperm
cell in
High
Power
Objective
 Cheek cell
in High
Power
Objective
In the illustrations of some
specimen experiment above, we would
able to recognize the different
organelles present in each type of cell.
In plant cells like onion cell, santan
leaves cell, elodea cell and the cotton
stem cell, we recognize the visible
organelles in the microscope such as
the nucleus, cell wall, cell membrane
and vacuole. While in animal cell such
as the sperm cell and cheek cell, we
recognize visible organelles in
microscope such as cell membrane,
cytoplasm, mitochondria and nucleus.
RESULT
In these experiment, we would
able to observe the cells of the
specimen and study their unique
structure and identify their parts. We
also been able to conduct the
experiment efficiently through the
proper use of the compound light
microscope and identified the
differences of each lens we used in the
experiment
DISCUSSION
In the Data above, it shows the
different structure of each specimen
(Onion, Santan, Sperm, Elodea, Cotton
stem, and Cheek Cell) shown in the
different types of lenses used in the
microscope (scanner, low power
objective, high power objective) in
which they differ in the magnification,
scanner has the farthest and has the
clear picture, low power objective is
close-up and not so clear while the
high power objective is the closest and
the blur among the 3 lenses
We can also identify the
organelles in the cell and how they
move (e.g. sperm cell and elodea)
inside the cell. There, in the
illustrations, we can see the
differences of the plant cell and the
animal cell under the microscope, and
also we can identify their parts that
are visible into our eyes.
This experiment is important
because we would be able to study the
smallest structural and functional unit
of an organism or the so called “cell,”
and we would able to recognize it’s
visible parts under the compound light
microscope.
CONCLUSION
Through this experiment we
would able to recognize and observe
organelles present in the given
samples with the proper use of the
compound light microscope and the
digital microscope.
We distinguish the structures of
each specimen and identified if they
are part of animal cell or plant cell. In
the animal cell (e.g. sperm cell and
cheek cell), we would able to
characterize it by generally having cell
membrane which surround the
cytoplasm and separate the inside of
the cell from outside; cytoplasm which
fill up the cell and keeping the cell in
place and also defines the shape of
the cell; nucleus which contains the
cell’s hereditary information and
control its growth and reproduction;
mitochondria which is the powerhouse
of the cell.
While in the plant cell (onion
cell, santan leaves cell, elodea cell,
cotton stem cell), they generally have
nucleus which serves as the control of
growth and reproduction of cell’s DNA;
cell wall which serves as the
protective outer layer of a plant cell;
cell membrane which separates the
inside and outside of the cell; and
vacuoles who’s main function is to
protect the cell, storage and waste
disposal of the cell.
RECOMMENDATION
 As we discover cell through this
experimentation, some
specimen aren’t visible in the
compound light microscope.
Some groups has an access to
the digital microscope, some
are not. We would like to
recommend the equal use or
distribution of the digital
microscope.
APPENDIX

Figure 4: Onion epidermis (a type of plant

cell) observed under compound light
microscope

Figure 1: Viewing of the specimens under

the compound light microscope

Figure 2: Members of Group 4B

Figure 3: Sperm cell (a type of animal cell)

observed under digital microscope