Comparing Plant and Animal Cells

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Comparing Plant and Animal Cells

• By Dean Bartlett
• January 14, 2004

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Introduction

• Today I will be talking about comparing plant and
  animal cells. Ever since the first microscope was
  used, biologists have been interested in studying
  the cellular organizations of all living things.
  After hundreds of years of observations by many
  biologists, the cell theory was developed. The
  cell theory states that the cell is the
  structural and functional unit of living

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Introduction cont.

• Cells contain structures called organelles that
  carry out life processes. Cells can be classified
  by the types of organelles they contain. In plant
  and animal cells, similarities and differences
  exist because of varied life functions. In this
  investigation, I will compare the structures of a
  typical plant cell (onion) and a typical animal
  cell (human)

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Statement of the Problem

• How are plant and animal cells alike? How are
  they different?

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Hypothesis

• I believe that plant and animal cells are alike
  in that they share some of the same organelles. I
  also believe that they differ in that they
  contain some organelles that are unique to them.

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Materials List

• Dissecting needle
• Medicine dropper
• Onion leaf
• Microscope slide
• Microscope
• Prepared slide of human cheek cells

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Procedures

• Take a microscope from the storage area and place
  it about 10 centimeters from the edge of the
  laboratory table.
• Carefully clean the eyepiece and objective lenses
  with lens paper.
• Place a drop of water in the center of a clean
  microscope slide.

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Procedures cont.

• Observe some cells. Sketch and label what you see
  in the appropriate place in observations. Record
  the magnification of the microscope.
• Return the microscope to the storage area.

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Data Results

• This was the plant cell that I observed under the
  microscope. As you can see it looks like bricks
  stacked together. The nucleus and cytoplasm is
  clearly visible.

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Data and Results cont.

• This was the human cheek cell that I saw with the
  microscope. The human cheek cell really has no
  defined shape. Though the nucleus and cytoplasm
  is clearly visible.

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Conclusion

• In conclusion, after performing this lab I found
  that my hypothesis was correct. Plant cells and
  animal cells both share a nucleus and
  mitochondria. They also share a cell membrane.
  The differences between the two are that an
  animal cell is protected by a cell membrane
  while, the plant cell is protected by the cell
  wall. A plant cell gets its food through
  photosynthesis a animal cell gets its

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Conclusion cont.

• food through what the animal consumes. A plant
  cell contains chloroplast which harvest light
  from the sun to use for food. It also contains
  chlorophyll which gives the plant its green
  color. The animal cell doesnt contain any of
  these organelles. This conclude my presentation
  on animal and plant cells, I hope I have cleared
  up the differences between the two cells.

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Bibliography

• Prentice Hall Biology Textbook
• Lab 6 Comparing Plant and Animal Cells