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BIOLOGY Animal & Plant Lab
www.njctl.org Eukaryotes & Gene Expression
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Students will observe the differences between plant and animal cells.
Purpose Slide 4 / 21
Forceps Medicine Droppers or plastic pipets Elodea plant or similar aquatic plant Water Compound Microscope Glass Slides Coverslips Toothpicks Methylene blue stain Paper Towels Lens paper
Materials Slide 5 / 21 Procedure A:
Examining Plant Cells
Step 1 Obtain a microscope from the storage cabinet and place it
- n your lab table.
Step 2 Place a drop of water in the center of a clean glass slide. Step 3 Using forceps, remove a leaf from the Elodea plant and place it on the drop of water on the slide. Make sure that the leaf is flat. If it is folded, straighten it with the forceps. Step 4 Place a coverslip over the drop of water and Elodea leaf. Try not to get any bubbles trapped under the coverslip. Step 5 Place the slide on the stage of the microscope with the leaf directly over the opening in the stage.
Slide 6 / 21 Procedure A:
Examining Plant Cells
Step 6 Using the low-power objective lens, locate the leaf under the microscope. Turn the coarse adjustment knob until the leaf comes into focus. Center the leaf in the field of view and observe the cells. Step 7 Switch to the medium-power objective lens. Locate the leaf using the microscope. Turn the fine adjustment knob until the leaf comes into focus. Do not turn too far in one direction. Center the leaf in the field of view. Step 8 Switch to the high-power objective lens. CAUTION: When turning to the high-power objective lens, you should always look at the objective from the side of your microscope so that the objective lens does not hit or damage the slide. Step 9 Observe the cells of the Elodea leaf. Draw and label what you see in the appropriate place in Data section. Record the magnification of the microscope.
- 10. Dispose of the coverslip and Elodea leaf. Wash and dry the