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Lesson 4 Cells

  Watch This

Studying Cell Preparation

https://adlc.wistia.com/medias/pd7cjlek96


This video will show you how to prepare a slide for viewing under a microscope, from sample collection to the preparation of a wet mount. There will be questions on this process on your assessments, so make sure you pay close attention and take notes!
 

  Read This

Please read page 480 in your Science 10 textbook. Make sure you take notes on your readings to study from later. You should focus on the steps involved in creating a wet mount and staining a specimen. Remember, if you have any questions or you do not understand something, ask your teacher!

  Virtual Lab


Microscope Lab - Cell Structure and Function


Background Information:

This lab will let you see the organelles we have discussed in a real-life setting. Some organelles are too small to be seen with a compound light microscope, so we will be focusing on the nucleus, cell membrane, cell wall, cytoplasm, chloroplasts, and vacuoles. You may have to look at different cells on the slide to see all the parts.

If you need a refresher on how to use the virtual microscope, please review Exercise 1 under Lab 1.  This microscope has an ocular lens magnification of 10x.


  1. Click on the play icon to open the virtual lab. Print students can access the Virtual Microscope in the Online Resources for Print Students section of their online course.
  2. Click on Exercise 2 under Lab 1.
  3. Click on the procedures tab on the right side of your screen to open the procedures.
  4. Follow the directions found in the procedures. You will need to complete both procedures found in this lab. Remember, finding these tiny structures can take time. Some are very difficult to see, so try not to get frustrated! It is OK if you cannot find a structure or do not understand what you are seeing. Diagrams and real cells are very different things.
  5. Please return to the top of this page and click on analysis to complete the analysis questions.
  1. Include the images or drawings you took of your cells from Procedure 1 in your notes to study from at a later date.  For more information on how to draw scientific diagrams, see page 481 in your textbook. 


Total Magnification Used = 400x.  The ocular lens has a magnification of 10x and the 40x objective lens was used.

  1. Include the images or drawings you took of your cells from Procedure 2 in your notes to study from at a later date.  For more information on how to draw scientific diagrams, see page 481 in your textbook.


Total Magnification Used = 400x.  The ocular lens has a magnification of 10x and the 40x objective lens was used.
The paramecium is approximately 0.5 mm long and 0.2 mm wide.

  1. Compare the shape of the cells that did and did not have cell walls.  What effect does the cell wall have on the shape of the cell?

The cells in the leaf cross-section slide contained cell walls.  These cells had a more square or rectangle shape compared with the paramecium that does not have a cell wall.  The cell wall gives the cell more structure so that it can better hold its shape.

  1. Where in your leaf does photosynthesis occur?  How do you know?

Photosynthesis occurs in the long cells.  We know this because that is where the chloroplasts are and photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplasts.

  1. Why do you think the paramecium contains 1 cell while the leaf cross-section contains many?

The paramecium is a single-celled organism, meaning that it completes all life functions using one cell.  The leaf is part of a multi-cellular organism, meaning that different types of cells have different specialized functions.  You will learn more about multi-cellular organisms and how they work in section 3.