Cell Biology Lab Report: Microscopy and Characterization of Cells

Abstract

The aim of this cell biology lab was to explore the world of microscopy and characterize various types of cells. Samples of red blood cells, yeast, bacteria, algae, and cheek cells were examined at different magnifications. The field sizes at each magnification were calculated. Additionally, the sizes of these cells were ranked from largest to smallest. The lab also included a scientific drawing of an algae cell and a comparison of cultured cells to cheek and red blood cells. Two types of microscopes, fluorescence microscopes, and electron microscopes were discussed, along with the use of an inverted epifluorescence microscope.

The findings and observations provide valuable insights into the characteristics of different cell types and the utility of various microscopy techniques.

Introduction

Microscopy is an essential tool in the field of cell biology, allowing scientists to visualize and study cells at various levels of magnification. In this lab, we aimed to explore microscopy and characterize different types of cells, including red blood cells, yeast, bacteria, algae, and cheek cells.

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By using different magnifications and techniques, we aimed to gain a better understanding of their size, shape, and structure.

Materials and Methods

For this lab, the following materials were used:

• Microscopes
• Glass slides
• Coverslips
• Microscope slides
• Microscope immersion oil
• Various cell samples (red blood cells, yeast, bacteria, algae, cheek cells)
• Staining materials (Safranin for cheek cells)
• Fluorescent dyes (for inverted epifluorescence microscopy)

The field sizes at each magnification were calculated as follows:

Experimental Procedure

The following steps were followed during the lab:

1. Prepare microscope slides with the cell samples.
2. Calculate the field size at each magnification.
3. Observe and record the characteristics of each cell type at 10x, 40x, and oil immersion (100x) magnifications.
4. For cheek cells, stain with Safranin and observe under the microscope.
5. Rank the cells in order of size, from largest to smallest.
6. Create a scientific drawing of an algae cell.
7. Compare cultured cells to cheek and red blood cells.

Results

Summary and observations of samples A-E:

The cells were ranked in order of size from largest to smallest:

1. Cheek Swab (0.4 mm)
2. Red Blood Cells (0.015 mm)
3. Yeast (0.02 mm)
4. Algae Cell (Length: 0.2 mm, Width: 0.03 mm)
5. Bacteria (Unable to view)

Discussion

The observations revealed that red blood cells and yeast cells were similar in size but differed in color and overall structure. Algae cells were significantly larger in length than other cells and exhibited a mix of green and purple colors. Cheek cells were the widest and had unique shapes and textures not seen in other cells. Unfortunately, we were unable to view the bacteria sample, and it is suggested that heat fixing may have been necessary for better visibility.

Considering the cheek swab sample, it raises the question of what else could have been on the slide. A proposed technique to further investigate this could be Gram staining, a method used to identify bacterial species based on their cell wall characteristics. This technique could help identify any bacteria present on the cheek swab slide.

Furthermore, in a related study, Blaylock (2001) examined the oral bacterial flora of snakes from Southern Africa. While not directly related to human oral cavity cells, this study used Gram staining to identify bacterial species. They found that 20% of the isolated species were gram-positive aerobic cocci, and this information was related to snake bite wounds to determine infection correlations (Blaylock, 2001).

Conclusion

In conclusion, this cell biology lab allowed us to explore microscopy and characterize various cell types. We ranked the cells by size, with cheek cells being the largest, followed by red blood cells, yeast, and algae. Unfortunately, we were unable to view the bacteria sample. The observations provided valuable insights into the differences in size, shape, and color among these cell types.

Additionally, the proposed technique of Gram staining may be useful in further investigating the contents of the cheek swab slide, potentially identifying bacterial species. This lab experience highlighted the importance of microscopy in the field of cell biology and its potential applications in various research areas.

Recommendations

Based on the findings and limitations of this lab, the following recommendations are proposed:

1. For future experiments involving cheek swab samples, consider using Gram staining to identify potential bacterial species.
2. Explore additional microscopy techniques to improve the visualization of cells, especially in cases where standard microscopy is insufficient.
3. Further research into the characteristics and functions of the observed cell types can provide valuable insights into their roles in biological processes.

References

• Blaylock, R. S. M. (2001). Normal oral bacterial flora from some southern African snakes. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, 68, 175-182.
• Green, H., Kehinde, O., & Thomas, J. (1979). Growth of cultured human epidermal cells into multiple epithelia suitable for grafting. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 76(11), 5665-5668. doi:10.1073/pnas.76.11.5665
• Alberts, B., Bray, D., Hopkin, K., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., ... Walter, P. (2013). Essential Cell Biology (4th ed.). New York, NY: Garland Science, Taylor & Francis Group.