Laboratory Report No.

2
Cell Anatomy
Barcelona, J. ; Baxa, R. ; Doroteo, DA. ; Garcia, KP ; Garcia, J ; Odosis, E. Jr. ; Rabanera, D. ;
San Pedro, J.
Far Eastern University | MT 208 | BIO2MT LAB
Abstract
All living things are made up of cells, including humans, animals and plants. Every cells purpose is to survive for
them to perform their function well. This laboratory experiment is limited only to identify the different parts and
function of the cell and also to observe three different specimens in the microscope: cheek cell, Allium cepa or onion
and fish blastula. It is divided into two parts. First, the students familiarized the different parts of the cell with the
help of their instructor. Then, they observed specimens with different cell structures under a microscope and
identified their parts. The experiment aimed to observe and to differentiate animal cells from plant cells. Three
specimens were observed and tested as seen in the microscope. First, the human cheek cell, which was taken from
the last experiment, was seen under high power objective (400x). Next, the Allium cepa (onion) cell was seen under
high power objective (400x). Lastly, the fish blastula was also seen under high power (400x). The organelles present
in the cells were labeled; the only difference is that plant cells have cell wall. Almost all types of cells have the same
organelles; it's just that some can only be found in plants. From this data, the organelles from the animal cell are
different from a plant cell but it cant deny the fact that each of them is very important for them to live.

Introduction
Have you ever wondered what life can be being as the smallest of all? A life that even our naked
eye cannot see? And even believe that they have functions that can even support a life? This
small being are called cell. Cells are small compartments that hold the biological equipment
necessary to keep an organism alive and successful (Tohid, 2008) Living things may be
unicellular or multicellular such as a human being. (Scitable, 2014) According to cell theory,
cells are the fundamental unit of structure and function in all living organisms and come from
pre-existing cells, and that all cells contain hereditary information necessary for regulating cell
functions and for transmitting information to the next generation of cells. (Wolpert, 1996) Thus,
cells are parts of larger units (tissues and organs) and are composed of smaller units (organelles).

This gives the various vital components of the cell such as the mitochondria, ribosomes,
endoplasmic reticulum, chloroplast (for plant cell), nucleus etc. Cell organelles and its
components play a vital role in the functioning and working of the cell.
At the end of this experiment/activity, the students should be able to: place the cell and its
organelles within the scheme of organizational levels, identify the major organelles on a model,
chart, specimen, or micrograph, describe primary functions of typical organelles and understand
the anatomical relationship among various cell parts.

Materials and Methods

The experiment was divided into two parts. The first part of the experiment was identifying the
parts of the cell. Colored pencils were used to differentiate and emphasize each parts of the cell
in the cell structure by assigning a specific color to a specific part.
For the second part of the experiment, three specimens were observed using a compound light
microscope. The three specimens were Allium Cepa, Fish Blastula and Cheek Cell. Each slide
was positioned on the stage and was safe kept by the stage clips of the microscope. The
specimens were viewed and observed using the High Power Objective Lens (10x). The color,
shape and parts of the cell structure were noted. The specimen was then drawn and labeled.

Results and Visuals

A. Parts of the Cell

(1)

(2)

Figure 1.1 Different types of cells and their organelles. (1) Animal Cell (2) Plant Cell
Table 1 List of the parts of cell and their classification
Membranous
Endoplasmic reticulum
Golgi apparatus
Lysosomes
Mitochondrion
Nucleus
Cell Membrane
B. Microscopic Cell Specimen
For Cheek cell:

Nonmembranous
Centriole
Nucleolus
Ribosome

(1)

(2)

Figure 1.2 Cheek cell under High Power Objective lens, total magnification 400x (1) Cheek cell
under Low Power Objective lens, total magnification 100x (2)
For Allium Cepa:

(1)
Figure 1.3 Allium cepa under High Power Objective lens, total magnification 400x (1)

For Fish blastula:

(1)
Figure 1.4 Fish blastula under High Power Objective lens, total magnification 400x (1)

Discussion
Generally, these three specimen, the cell of human cheek, allium cepa and fish blastula share
certain characteristics even they were classified into different groups. Though these specimen
have a number of key similarities, they also some noted some differences. The structures and the
parts of the cell inside each cells works as an indicators that helps student to identify whether
that specimen or cell is a plant cell or an animal cell.
Cheek Cell
As the cells observed do not have a cell wall, nor a prominent vacuole, the cells of the specimen
on the slide are animal cells. (Amrita Labs)

In this activity, one of them will gently scraped the inside of the cheek using a sterile toothpick.
After collecting the specimen, the student smeared the sample onto the microscopic slide and
then carefully placed a drop of crystal violet on the smear so that the specimen will become
visible or vivid. Cell of human cheek as an example of animal cell has a spherical or oval shape.
From the previous laboratory experiment, we learned that the darkly stained region of cheek cell
is a nucleus.
LPO 100x
The low power objective has the total magnification of 100x. They located the dots, or the cheek
cells, and it appeared to be separated and spread out. And then they switched to high power
objective to see a larger detail of the cell.
HPO 400x
At 400x total magnification, the students have seen only one cell under the microscope as the
cheek cells became farther from each other as seen at the low power objective that the cells were
spread out.

The cell of human cheek is an example of an animal cell that consists of a nucleus, cytoplasm,
and cell membrane, it doesnt show any cell wall as it is only seen on a plant cell. However, each
cell has a thin cell membrane. The cytoplasm in the cheek cell occupies a larger space where the
nucleus is found. The nucleus is deeply stained as observed at the center of each cell. The cells
seen are squamous epithelial cells; squamous because it appears scale-like, and epithelial
because it came from the lining of the mouth.
Stains may be used to define and examine different types of microbes, various stages of cellular
life (e.g., the mitotic cycle), and even organelles within individual cells (Boundless)
Crystal violet is used to enhance the contrast in the microscopic image seen. It was used to make
a specimen, or some of its part visible or vivid. It was used to highlight the biological structure,
organelles, in the specimen. However, the dye only reacts on certain organelles. Some stains
require special techniques, but most stain can simply dropped or added to the specimen and
viewed.
The absence of a cell wall and a prominent vacuole are indicators that help identify animal cells,
such as cell seen in the human cheek. (school.work helper.net/plant/staining)
Allium cepa
As cell walls and large vacuoles are clearly observed in all the cells, the cells placed for
observation are plant cells. (Amrita Labs)
There was already a prepared microscope slide of the specimen ready to be seen under the
microscope. The students used a compound light microscope to magnify Allium cepa under high
power objective (HPO) with a total magnification of 400x.
HPO 400x
As the specimen viewed under the microscope, the specimen appeared to be in a light green
color with dark green lines that have the pattern of a brick or checkered wall and in most of the
irregularly-shaped boxes, there are dots to be seen.

The onion cell or allium cepa specifically, is a common example of plant cell that has a
rectangular shape. The structures and the parts of allium cepas cell were aligned together
creating a checkered like pattern. The image seen through the microscope has a structure or line
that is greenish in color, and that structure is chlorophyll. The onion cell consists of a cell wall,
cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus and a large vacuole. An onion is a plant organism that is
consisting of many cells that is called multicellular. The nucleus is seen near the boundary of the
cytoplasm. Lightly stained cytoplasm is observed in each cell. The vacuole is at the center of the
cell and it is easily seen and it is surrounded by the cytoplasm. To certainly identify a plant cell,
the presence of a cell wall and a large vacuole is a big giveaway. As all of those characteristics
shown on an onion peel makes it a plant cell. The image seen through the microscope has a
structure or line that is greenish in color, and that structure is chlorophyll.
The presence of a cell wall and a large vacuole are indicators that help identify plant cells, such
as seen in the onion peel. (school.work helper.net/plant/staining)
Fish blastula
The blastula is an early stage of embryo development and represents a period in the organism's
life when most of the cells are constantly dividing. (Green River)
There is already a fixed glass ride to be seen under the microscope. In this activity, students will
observe cell of the white fish blastula in a prepared slide. At a total magnification of 400x, the
students used a compound light microscope to magnify fish blastula
HPO 400x
Under the microscope, the specimen has pink colored cells, with irregular-shaped circles and
ovals close together. A darkly stained dot in every circles and ovals are seen.
Whitefish blastula is a specimen that the biologists use to study mitosis. Because the cell os
blastula are still undergoing rapid cell division, making it specimen likely have many cells at
various stages of the cell life cycle. (Kevin Patton)

Conclusion
At the end of the experiment, the students concluded that even though cells are smaller than a
dot, its function is very essential to every living thing. Together with the other cells, they form
tissues that themselves form organs, and eventually entire organisms. Each and every structure of
the cell has a specific purpose with many of them having a multiple functions. Moreover, they
also discovered that human cell is same as the animal cell but different from plant cell. All in all,
cells may be small but they have the biggest responsibilities which are to be the support and
foundation of every living organism.

References
amrita.olabs.edu.in,. (2013). Onion and Cheek Cells. Retrieved 24 August 2016, from
amrita.olabs.edu.in/?sub=79&brch=15&sim=125&cnt=1
Scitable. (2014). Retrieved from Nature Education:
http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/what-is-a-cell-14023083
Boundless. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.boundless.com/microbiology/textbooks/boundless-microbiologytextbook/microscopy-3/light-microscopy-29/general-staining-methods-243-4284/
Green River. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.instruction.greenriver.edu/kmarr/biology
%20211/Labs%20and%20ALEs/B211%20Labs/B211%20Labs/Onion%20and%20Whitefish
%20Mitosis/Whitefish%20Mitosis/Whitefish%20Mitosis.htm
Helper, S. W. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://schoolworkhelper.net/plant-animal-cells-staining-labanswers/
Tohid, H. (2008). Journal of Cell Science & Therapy. Retrieved from OMICS International:
http://www.omicsonline.org/cell-science-therapy.php
Wolpert, L. (1996). The evolution of the cell theory. Biological History.