Materials
*30 cm x 30 cm Aluminum Foil (Cell Wall)
*4 Gelatin Packets, unflavored
*2 Resealable Bags (Cell Membrane)
*Bowl
*Household items to represent the cell structures
*Warm Water
You Must Provide items noted by an *asterisk
Procedure
1. Place four packets of unflavored gelatin in a bowl. Add 4 cups of hot water to the bowl. Do not refrigerate
the mixture yet!
Note: You do not need to heat the water in a microwave. Simply run tap water until it feels warm to the touch.
2. Label each resealable bag as either “Plant Cell” or “Animal Cell”. These will serve as the cell membrane.
3. Construct a cell wall using the aluminum foil. This should be large enough to fit the resealable bag when filled with half of the gelatin and some of the cell structures.
Hint: It is helpful to make this square-shaped.
4. Using your knowledge of the cell structures (rought component of endoplasmic reticulum and free ribosomes, nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi bodies, chloroplasts) think of household items which
can represent these structures. Find and collect these items for use in this experiment.
Hint: Colored paper may bleed when placed in gelatin.
5. Open the resealable bag labeled “Plant Cell” and pour half of the liquid gelatin into it.7. Add the items which represent plant cell structures (you must determine which items!) into the gelatin and tightly close the bag. If there is an “organelle” present in both plant and animal cells make sure to leave enough to be included in the animal cell.
6. Place the bag in the aluminum foil cell wall.
7. Open the resealable bag labeled “Animal Cell” and pour the remainder of the gelatin into it.
8. Add the items which represent animal cell structures (you must determine which items!) into the gelatin and tightly close the bag.
9. Place both “cells” into the refrigerator for 24 hours.
10. Return after 24 hours and observe the “cells” you have made. Notice the difference between the animal cell and the plant cell.
Lab 2 Cell Structure and Function BIO101L
Student Name:
Kit Code (located on the lid of your lab kit):
Pre-Lab Questions
1. Identify three major similarities and differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
Prokaryotic Cells
Eukaryotic Cells
Lack Lysosome
Has lysosome
Lack Peroxisome
Has Peroxisome
Lack Mitochondria
Has Mitochondria
2. Where is the DNA housed in a prokaryotic cell? Where is it housed in a eukaryotic cell?
3. Identify three structures which provide support and protection in a eukaryotic cell.
Experiment 1: Identifying Cell Structures
Post-Lab Questions
1. Label each of the arrows in the following slide image:
Structure
Identity
A
Chromosomes
B
Nucleus
C
Mitochondrion
D
Cell wall
2. What is the difference between the rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum?
3. Would an animal cell be able to survive without mitochondria? Why or why not?
No, it would be difficult for an animal cell to survive without a mitochondria. Without the mitochondria which generate energy, cells would only be able to obtain energy from anaerobic respiration which may not be enough to sustain life
4. What could you determine about a specimen if you observed a slide image showing the specimen with a cell wall, but no nucleus or mitochondria?
5. Hypothesize why parts of a plant, such as the leaves, are green, but other parts, such as the roots, are not. Use scientific reasoning to support your hypothesis.
Experiment 2: Create a Cell
Post-Lab Questions
1. What cell structures did you place in the plant cell that you did not place in the animal cell?
2. Is there any difference in the structure of the two cells?
3. What structures do cells have for support in organisms that lack cell walls?
4. How are organelles in a cell like organs in a human body?
5. How does the structure of a cell suggest its function? List three examples.
6. In the table below, list the items you used to represent the various organelles in your PLANT cell. Provide a brief rationale explaining why you selected each item.
Item
Organelle
Rationale
usb Nucleus Usb hold the iformation
Beads ribosomes The beads look like ribosomes
Gelatin cytoplasm Fills in the cell like cytoplasm
Black square chloroplast Chloroplast absorbs the sunlight
Yarn Endoplasmic reticulum The yard twisted and bundled up just like the reticulum
Plastic box Plant cell wall Plastic box is more stronger and more protective and hence it represents Plant cell wall that Protects the outside layer of the cell
Envelop ( small) Golgi aparatus The envelope is like mail been delivered as the golgi apparatus is like the mail transport
Bag Cell membrane The bag holds everything inside like the cell membrane
Container Vacuole A vacuole can hold something just like the big container which can help anything that is inside it and can also protect anything from getting inside.
Glue nucleolus The glue produces the sticker where necessary just as the nucleolus will produce ribosomes subunits.
7. Insert picture of your PLANT cell with your name clearly in the background.
8. In the table below, list the items you used to represent the various organelles in your ANIMAL cell. Provide a brief rationale explaining why you selected each item.
Item
Organelle
Rationale
Manual steering wheel Nucleus Nucleus controls the cell just like the wheel controls the car
Cardboard box Cell membrane Just like the cell membrane protects the cells and allows certain items to enter the box will also protect the items inside allowing certain items that can only fit in the box
Envelop Golgi bodies The envelope protects the contents that’s inside and delivers it to another place just like the golgi body that packages and ships the proteins
Straw Endoplasmic reticulum The endoplasmic reticulum send materials to the cells just as the straw sending materials from the glass to the mouth.
Tum pills Lysosomes Just as the tum pills help in digestion the lysosomes also assist in digestion of materials
Kapla Ribosomes Both ribosomes and kapla are used for creation; where ribosomes create proteins and kapla create structures
Battery Mitochondria The mitochondria supplies energy to the cells just as the battery produces energy for use.
Bag Cytoplasm A bag holds all items together inside there just like the cytoplasm that holds most of the cells
Container vacuole Small container holds things inside it just like the vacuole does
bag Cell membrane The bag provides protection to the things inside just like the cell membrane provides protection
9. Insert picture of your ANIMAL cell with your name clearly in the background.