Cell Comparison Lab

Bacteria (Prokaryotic Cells)Spirillium (Left Pic, Purple Slide)Coccus (Middle Pic, Pink Slide)Bacillus (Right Pic, Pink Slide)

Protist (Eukaryotic)Euglena

Protist (Eukaryotic)Paramecium

Protist (Eukaryotic)Amoeba

Fungi (Eukaryotic)Penicillium

Fungi (Eukaryotic)Coprinus Mushroom

Plantae (Eukaryotic)

• Elodea (A Water Plant)

Animalia (Eukaryotic)Blood Cells

Pink Circles – Red Blood Cell (erythrocyte), no nucleusPurple Circles – White Blood Cell (leukocyte), dark purple nucleus (not

round)Small purple spots – Platelets

Animalia (Eukaryotic)Muscle Cells

Each cell is known as a “fiber”Muscle cells are long & stringy

Have many nuclei per cellPic on left shows 3 muscle cells (fibers) in horizontal rows

Animalia (Eukaryotic)Nerve Tissue

2 Types of Cells on this slideTiny dots – Nucleus of Glial Cells (supporting cells of nervous

system, help hold neurons in place)Big, branchy cells – Neurons

Cheek Cell (Human, Eukaryotic)– Directions for preparing a slide:

• Place a drop of water on the center of the slide. • GENTLY scrape the inside of your cheek with a toothpick. DO NOT STAB the inside of your cheek!• Mix the material from the toothpick into the drop of water on the slide.• THROW AWAY YOUR USED TOOTHPICK IMMEDIATELY! Do not reuse toothpicks!• Place a drop of methylene blue stain on top of the water/cheek cell mixture. WAIT about ONE

MINUTE. Then, place the cover slip on top. • Place the cover slip on the slide like a drawbridge. Put the cover slip down on one edge and gently

lower the cover slip onto the slide. • Dry off any liquid that leaked out from under the cover slip by placing a paper towel at the edge of

the cover slip. Place the DRY slide on the stage.• View the cells under scanning power (40X, red objective). Look for a cluster of cheek cells where you

would be able to focus most clearly. Focus using coarse focus, then fine.• View the cells under low power (100X, yellow objective). Focus using coarse focus and/or fine focus.

– Draw and label the cells in the “Results” section. Record observations.• View the cells under high power (400X, blue objective). Focus ONLY using FINE focus.

– Draw and label the cells in the “Results” section. Record observations. • Once you have finished observing the cells, remove the slide from the stage. Throw away the slide

and cover slip. Wipe off the microscope/stage if needed.

Cheek Cell (Human, Eukaryotic)