Virtual Lab – Microscopy – Wet Mount (Euglena) What similarities and differences do you see between the plant cells (onion and Elodea) and the Euglena? Similarities: All three types of cells (onion, Elodea, and Euglena) contain a cell membrane, cytoplasm, and a nucleus. They have chloroplasts (Elodea and Euglena) or can contain pigments involved in photosynthesis. Differences: Onion Cells: Onion cells are typically rectangular and lack chloroplasts as they are not photosynthetic. They have a large central vacuole and a rigid cell wall. Elodea Cells: Elodea cells are rectangular or box-like and contain chloroplasts for photosynthesis. They have a cell wall and a central vacuole. Euglena: Euglena is unicellular and has a flexible outer membrane called a pellicle rather than a rigid cell wall. It has chloroplasts for photosynthesis but also can consume food from the environment. Euglena also features a flagellum for movement.

Virtual Lab – Microscopy – Wet Mount (Euglena) In a wet mount preparation: The glass piece that forms the base is called the cover slip. The glass that covers the top of the specimen is called the slide.

Virtual Lab – Microscopy – Wet Mount (Euglena) What organelle assists the Euglena in osmoregulation?

Virtual Lab – Microscopy – Animal Cells (Human Epidermal Cells) Why was a stain added to the human epidermal cells from the cheek smear prior to microscopic observation?

Virtual Lab – Microscopy – Animal Cells (Human Epidermal Cells) If you were given a slide of cells from an unknown organism, you could determine whether the cells are from a plant or an animal by looking for the cell wall, chloroplasts, and a vacuole.

How is pH paper used to determine the pH of a solution?

Virtual Lab – Microscopy – Plant Cells (Onion Epidermal Cells) Follow the steps provided in the reading section of this study guide for assistance to calculate the estimated width (in

What is the name of your Art 100 instructor? 

Virtual Lab – Operation of Bright Field Microscope What is the difference between resolution and contrast?

Virtual Lab – Microscopy – Plant Cells (Onion Epidermal Cells)All living systems are made up of either prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells. Bacteria are prokaryotic organisms. Prokaryotic cells are generally smaller, less complex, and most importantly, the genetic material (DNA) is not enclosed in a membrane-bound structure (known as the nucleus). All bacteria are prokaryotes. Eukaryotic cells make up all the other kingdoms of life: plants, animals, fungi, and protists. Eukaryotic cells are generally larger, more complex in cellular organization, and have distinct membrane-bound structures known as organelles (including having a nucleus). Most cellular structures are too small and colorless to be visually identifiable using a light microscope. However, it is possible to visualize nuclei in eukaryotic cells using a light microscope. In this next simulation, you will observe onion epidermal cells, which are harvested from the inner portion of a layer from an onion bulb. The bulb of the onion grows underground so, therefore, the organelle which accomplishes photosynthesis, the chloroplast, will not be visible in an onion bulb. Furthermore, since most cellular structures are colorless, it is important to treat many kinds of cells with some kind of stain before observing them with a light microscope. The color contrast the stain provides allows better observation of cellular detail and activity.