Investigating Cell TypesInvestigating Cell TypesCarolina Biological SupplyCarolina Biological Supply

25-100125-1001

$99.95 $99.95

Included in the kit: Included in the kit:

An order form for:An order form for: ParameciumParamecium culture culture EuglenaEuglena culture culture ElodeaElodea sample sample 8 bottles Protoslo 8 bottles Protoslo

quieting solutionquieting solution 96 concavity slides96 concavity slides 100 coverslips100 coverslips Yeast packetYeast packet Congo red stainCongo red stain

8 typical plant cell slide 8 typical plant cell slide + study cards+ study cards

8 human cheek cell 8 human cheek cell slides + study cardsslides + study cards

ToothpicksToothpicks 18 pipets18 pipets 16 ¼ oz jars16 ¼ oz jars 8 forcepts8 forcepts Teacher’s manual and Teacher’s manual and

reproducible student reproducible student guideguide

Needed, but not supplied:Needed, but not supplied:

16 microscopes (4x, 10x, 40x)16 microscopes (4x, 10x, 40x) Light source for EuglenaLight source for Euglena Liquid soap or detergentLiquid soap or detergent 5% salt solution (8 small containers, optional)5% salt solution (8 small containers, optional) Small container for yeastSmall container for yeast 8 small containers of distilled water8 small containers of distilled water Other supplies as deemed necessary by Other supplies as deemed necessary by

studentsstudents

Learning GoalsLearning Goals

Students willStudents will develop the skills necessary to design and perform develop the skills necessary to design and perform

scientific investigations.scientific investigations. produce testable hypotheses.produce testable hypotheses. differentiate between cell types.differentiate between cell types. identify function of visible cell organelles as they identify function of visible cell organelles as they

relate to structure.relate to structure. observe interactions between cells.observe interactions between cells. examine structural differences between plant and examine structural differences between plant and

animal cells.animal cells. investigate the effects of environmental conditions on investigate the effects of environmental conditions on

different cell types.different cell types.

OverviewOverview

The focus is to distinguish between the The focus is to distinguish between the structures of plant and animal cells and to structures of plant and animal cells and to build an understanding of why an build an understanding of why an organism is classified as an animal, a organism is classified as an animal, a plant or something else.plant or something else.

Paramecium is a group of single-celled eukaryotes, which are commonly studied as a representative of the ciliate group, as they are covered with cilia (small hairs) which allow the cells to move with a synchronous motion (like

a caterpillar) at speeds of approximately 12 body lengths per second. There is also a deep oral groove that is used to draw food inside. They generally feed on bacteria and other small cells. Water regulation is carried out by a pair of

contractile vacuoles, which actively expel water from the cell absorbed by osmosis from their surroundings. Generally considered a freshwater organism, new species have recently been discovered in the oceans.

PARAMECIUM

Euglena is a single-celled photosynthetic protist that can Euglena is a single-celled photosynthetic protist that can live heterotrophically too.  When acting as a heterotroph, live heterotrophically too.  When acting as a heterotroph, the Euglena surrounds a particle of food and consumes it the Euglena surrounds a particle of food and consumes it through phagocytosis. When acting as an autotroph, the through phagocytosis. When acting as an autotroph, the Euglena utilizes chloroplasts, to produce sugars by Euglena utilizes chloroplasts, to produce sugars by photosynthesis.  They move through the movement of a photosynthesis.  They move through the movement of a flagella (a long whip-like tail).flagella (a long whip-like tail).

EUGLENA

ElodeaElodea is a genus of aquatic plants often called  is a genus of aquatic plants often called the the waterweedswaterweeds. . ElodeaElodea is native to North America and is also  is native to North America and is also widely used as aquarium vegetation. The introduction of some widely used as aquarium vegetation. The introduction of some species of species of ElodeaElodea into waterways in parts of  into waterways in parts of Europe, Australia, Africa, Asia, and New Zealand has created a Europe, Australia, Africa, Asia, and New Zealand has created a significant problem and it is now considered a noxious weed in significant problem and it is now considered a noxious weed in these areas. An older name for this genus is these areas. An older name for this genus is AnacharisAnacharis, which , which serves as a common name in North America. serves as a common name in North America.

ELODEA

Activity 1Activity 1 Students view prepared slides of typical Students view prepared slides of typical

plant and animal cells.plant and animal cells. They also gain experience with viewing They also gain experience with viewing

cells under a microscope.cells under a microscope.

Procedure: Procedure:

1. Students are to look at the study cards 1. Students are to look at the study cards and compare them to the prepared slides. and compare them to the prepared slides. They will be asked to draw what they see, They will be asked to draw what they see, looking for structures that are characteristic looking for structures that are characteristic of each cell type. of each cell type.

Activity 2Activity 2 Students view living organisms and observe Students view living organisms and observe

many common cell organelles.many common cell organelles.Procedure: Paramecium/ EuglenaProcedure: Paramecium/ Euglena

1. place a drop of either Paramecium culture or 1. place a drop of either Paramecium culture or Euglena culture on a clean slide without a Euglena culture on a clean slide without a coverslip. Look at them under low power coverslip. Look at them under low power and observe unimpeded movement.and observe unimpeded movement.

2. add one drop of Protoslo to the slide. Mix 2. add one drop of Protoslo to the slide. Mix thoroughly with a clean toothpick and add a thoroughly with a clean toothpick and add a coverslip.coverslip.3. Observe under low power and then under 3. Observe under low power and then under high looking for cell organelles. Determine high looking for cell organelles. Determine function based on their form or shape.function based on their form or shape.4. Repeat with the other one-celled organism.4. Repeat with the other one-celled organism.

Activity 2: cont.Activity 2: cont.Procedure: ElodeaProcedure: Elodea

5. Remove several leaves (of varying 5. Remove several leaves (of varying shades of green) from the growing tip of shades of green) from the growing tip of the Elodea. Place one on a slide with a the Elodea. Place one on a slide with a drop of drop of water and a coverslip. Examine water and a coverslip. Examine under low and then high power noting any under low and then high power noting any organelles seen and try to determine their organelles seen and try to determine their function based on shape and actions.function based on shape and actions.

6. Repeat with other leaves.6. Repeat with other leaves.

Activity 3Activity 3 Students observe the organisms under a variety of Students observe the organisms under a variety of

environmental conditions.environmental conditions.Procedure: saltProcedure: salt

1. Students create a data table similar to the one in the 1. Students create a data table similar to the one in the student guide.student guide.

2. Place an Elodea leaf in a salt solution for use later.2. Place an Elodea leaf in a salt solution for use later.3. Add one drop of salt solution to a slide containing 3. Add one drop of salt solution to a slide containing Paramecium and Protoslo. Add a coverslip. Prepare Paramecium and Protoslo. Add a coverslip. Prepare a a similar salt slide with Euglena and Protoslo.similar salt slide with Euglena and Protoslo.4. Look at both slides and describe any changes in the 4. Look at both slides and describe any changes in the

cells.cells.5. Clean slides with water only and dispose of 5. Clean slides with water only and dispose of Paramecium and Euglena down the drain.Paramecium and Euglena down the drain.

Activity 3 : ContinuedActivity 3 : Continued Procedure: soap/detergentProcedure: soap/detergent

Follow the same procedure for all three organisms as Follow the same procedure for all three organisms as the salt slides but use one small drop of soap instead. the salt slides but use one small drop of soap instead. Note any changes in the cells.Note any changes in the cells.

Again clean the slides with water.Again clean the slides with water. Procedure: colored yeastProcedure: colored yeast

Use a toothpick to place a few colored granules of Use a toothpick to place a few colored granules of yeast by lightly tapping the toothpick on the slide yeast by lightly tapping the toothpick on the slide containing the organisms and Protoslo and the containing the organisms and Protoslo and the Elodea and water. Cover.Elodea and water. Cover.

Observe which organisms, if any, feed on the yeast. Observe which organisms, if any, feed on the yeast. Watch the path that takes it through the organism’s Watch the path that takes it through the organism’s body.body.

Clean slides with water.Clean slides with water.

Activity 4Activity 4

Students design and conduct an inquiry-based Students design and conduct an inquiry-based experiment of their own in order to view experiment of their own in order to view additional differences between plant and animal additional differences between plant and animal cells.cells.

Procedure:Procedure:1. Design an experiment to test the similarities 1. Design an experiment to test the similarities and differences between different types of cells and differences between different types of cells using supplied equipment or requesting using supplied equipment or requesting additional items.additional items.2. These tests will need to be repeated several 2. These tests will need to be repeated several times to be sure that the results are consistent.times to be sure that the results are consistent.

Suggestions for experimentsSuggestions for experiments (if students need help)(if students need help)

Reactions to light and/or darkReactions to light and/or dark Reactions to ethanol or isopropyl alcoholReactions to ethanol or isopropyl alcohol Reactions to vinegarReactions to vinegar Reactions to heat and/or cold, or changes in Reactions to heat and/or cold, or changes in

temperaturetemperature Reactions to caffeineReactions to caffeine Reactions to sugar solutionsReactions to sugar solutions Students should be encouraged to come up with Students should be encouraged to come up with

their own ideas and support even those ideas their own ideas and support even those ideas that stray from the norm. A grading rubric is that stray from the norm. A grading rubric is included in the booklet.included in the booklet.

Helpful hintsHelpful hints

Discuss cleaning and disposal. Elodea leaves Discuss cleaning and disposal. Elodea leaves go in the garbage, Paramecium and Euglena go in the garbage, Paramecium and Euglena can go down the drain. Wash slides with only can go down the drain. Wash slides with only water.water.

Use Protoslo sparingly- too much can make cells Use Protoslo sparingly- too much can make cells lyse. If students are having problems, have them lyse. If students are having problems, have them add the culture to a drop of Protoslo and mix add the culture to a drop of Protoslo and mix well to thicken.well to thicken.

Students will probably not be able to see all the Students will probably not be able to see all the structures on the Bioreview sheets included in structures on the Bioreview sheets included in the student guide. The ones that may be visible the student guide. The ones that may be visible are boldfaced.are boldfaced.

If students are still having difficulty seeing If students are still having difficulty seeing the structures because of the movement of the structures because of the movement of the organisms, one or two cotton fibers the organisms, one or two cotton fibers can be added to the slide to restrict the can be added to the slide to restrict the amount of space available.amount of space available.

When students feed the organisms, stress When students feed the organisms, stress the importance of adding the smallest the importance of adding the smallest amount of yeast possible. One tap of the amount of yeast possible. One tap of the toothpick on the slide is enough. If too toothpick on the slide is enough. If too much yeast is added, it will be difficult to much yeast is added, it will be difficult to view the organisms.view the organisms.