Comparing Eukaryotic & Prokaryotic Cells: A Microscope Lab

SB1. Students will analyze the nature of the relationships between

structures and functions in living cells.
a.
Explain the role of cell organelles for both
prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, including the cell membrane, in
maintaining homeostasis and cell reproduction.
SB3. Students will derive the relationship between single-celled and
multi-celled organisms and the increasing complexity of systems.
Purpose:
This activity will enable students to distinguish between types of eukaryotic cells
and prokaryotic cells, determine cell sizes, and correctly use a microscope. The
students are required to learn how to use a microscope, know how to determine
size of objects, make a wet mount, stain cells, identify large cellular structures,
and distinguish between prokaryotic, eukaryotic, plant, animal, and fungal cells.
Materials:
Compound microscope
Prepared slide of bacteria
Leaf Discs
Yogurt with active culture
Methylene blue
Algae

Protoslo
Paper towels
Pipettes
5 microscope slides
5 coverslips Cover slips
cotton swab

Exercise A: View Prepared Slides

1. View the prepared slides on the front counter. There are five slides-bacterial cells, animal cells,
plant cells, protozoa, and fungal cells.
2. Fill in the data chart, including whether the cells are prokaryote or eukaryote, to what kingdom
they belong, and a quick sketch of the cell.
Exercise B: Cheek Cells
1. Choose a person from your group to examine their cheek cells.
2. Clean a microscope slide with a KimWipe.
3.

Using a sterile cotton swab, gently rub the inside of your cheek. Be careful not to irritate the
epithelial tissue or to draw blood. Immediately after use, place the cotton swab into the beaker
of bleach solution on the front counter. Do not place items on the lab table.

4. Rub the collected material onto the microscope slide in an area about the size of a dime.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Allow the slide to air dry for one to two minutes.

Carefully place one drop of the methylene blue stain onto the sample area.
Carefully lower a new/clean coverslip at an angle over the wet sample to minimize air bubbles.
Observe the slide preparation. If the stain is too dark for easy observation, carefully add a drop
of water along one edge of the cover slip. Place the edge of a piece of paper towel on the
opposite edge of the cover slip. The paper towel will wick the stain from under the cover slip
pulling the water under the cover slip.

9. Place the slide on the stage and observe your cells on low power. Record your observations and
sketch in the data table.
10. After completing the observations, place the microscope slide into the beaker of bleach solution
on the front counter

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Exercise C: Leaves
Collect a new slide. Place a drop of water on the slide.
Place a leaf disk on top of your water droplet.
Put a clean/new cover slip in place as you did before and place the slide on the stage.
Observe the leaf through the microscope (again going from the low objective to high-power).
Record your observations and sketch in the data table.

Exercise D: Yogurt
Dab a drop of water onto a new clean microscope slide
Using a toothpick, place a small dab of yogurt in the water drop on the microscope slide.
Mix the yogurt in the drop of water using the toothpick.
Place a small drop of methylene blue stain in the center of the water droplet and carefully add
a new coverslip over the wet sample at an angle to minimize air bubbles.
5. Place the slide on the stage and observe the yogurt beginning on low power and moving to
high power.
6. Record your observations and sketch in the data table.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Exercise E: Pond Water

Place a drop of pond water on a clean slide.
Place a drop of Protoslo solution into the center of your water drop.
Carefully place a clean/new coverslip over the wet sample at an angle to minimize air bubbles.
Place the slide on the stage and observe the algae in pond water beginning on low power and
moving to high power.
5. Record your observations and sketch in the data table.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Exercise F: Yeast
1.
2.
3.
4.

Place a small drop of water on a clean slide.

Place a small drop of yeast on top of the water droplet.
Put a clean cover slip in place as you did before and place the slide on the stage.
Observe the sample through the microscope (again going from the low objective to highpower).
5. Record your observations and sketch in the data table.

Group Member Names: ______________________________________________

Date: __________ Block: ____
DATA CHART
Slide Mount
Prepared Slide #1
Bacteria (3 Shapes)

Prepared Slide #2
Mouth Squamous
Epithelium
Prepared Slide #3
Onion Root Tips
Prepared Slide #4
Paramecium

Prepared Slide #5
Penicillium Notatum

Exercise B: Cheek
Cells
Exercise C: Leaf Cells

Prokaryote
Or Eukaryote

Kingdom

Drawing of cell on High Power

Exercise D: Yogurt

Exercise E: Algae

Exercise F: Yeast
Saccharomyces
cerevisiae

Comparing Eukaryotic & Prokaryotic Cells: A Microscope Lab

Lab Analysis Questions:
1. Based on your observations, do all cells have the same shape or size? Support your answer.

2. Based on your observations, what structures are common to all cells?

3. What general distinguishing feature(s) did you notice between the prokaryotic and
eukaryotic cells viewed today?

4. How do the leaf and onion root tip cells differ from the cheek cells?

5. Compare the onion root tip cell with the leaf cell. Since they are both plant cells, they should
be similar. You will note that onion root tip cells lack one structure (organelle) that is very
obvious in leaf cells. Which organelle is it? Why do you think onion root tip cells lack this
organelle?

6. What kingdom of organisms did you see in the pond water? How do you know?

7. Do you notice any differences in the stained prepared slide Paramecium and the live
organisms in pond water?

8. What differences do you notice between the yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) cells and the
Penicillium Notatum? To which Kingdom do these organisms belong?