Cell Categorization and Enumeration: A Lab Exercise Without Experimentation

Categories: Chemistry

Abstract

This lab report does not involve conducting experiments but rather focuses on answering questions related to onion root tip photos that depict various stages of mitosis. The primary objective is to categorize and count cells to compute the mitotic index of the total root area.

Introduction

The purpose of this lab report is to address questions based on the onion root tip photos provided in the laboratory material. These questions are derived from the discussion and review section at the beginning of the mitosis lab.

The responses to these questions will provide insights into the process of mitosis.

Hypothesis

There is no hypothesis for this experiment as it involves answering questions rather than testing a specific hypothesis.

Procedure

The procedure for this lab report involves reviewing the discussion about mitosis and examining the six photos depicting various stages of mitosis in onion root tips. Subsequently, the results to questions associated with each photo are recorded in the lab report.

Results

In this lab, the objective was to gain knowledge about mitosis in plants.

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By reviewing the discussion and review materials, we were able to answer questions in the lab manual about mitosis. Notably, the mitotic index for question K was determined to be 5.5, and it was taken from the stem.

Discussion

The results of this lab report indicated that the mitotic index decreases as one moves further away from the root. This observation suggests that mitotic activity is highest in the root tip and gradually decreases as one moves towards the stem.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, this lab report focused on answering questions related to mitosis using onion root tip photos. Through this exercise, we gained insights into the different stages of mitosis and how to identify them. Notably, we observed that the mitotic index decreases as one moves away from the root, indicating that mitotic activity is most prominent in the root tip.

Questions

  1. A. What is the purpose of mitosis?

    The purpose of mitosis is the process by which the body builds tissue to grow and repair itself. Some organisms also reproduce asexually through mitosis, creating identical replicas of cells.

  2. B. Why is the cell cycle important for organisms?

    The cell cycle, particularly mitosis, is crucial for organisms as it duplicates the cell's chromosomes, allowing for the growth, replacement, and renewal of cells in eukaryotes. It also prepares the cell for mitosis by duplicating DNA and most cell organelles.

  3. C. What role does mitosis play in the growth of an embryo?

    Mitosis is essential for the growth of an embryo as it begins with one cell and rapidly divides cells, creating tissues and facilitating the growth of the embryo. Without regulated mitosis, the embryo will not be able to grow.

  4. D. What is one main difference in the mitotic processes between plant and animal cells?

    One main difference in the mitotic process between plant and animal cells is in the last stage of telophase. In animals, telophase is characterized by the formation of a cleavage furrow, followed by the pinching off of a new cell. In plants, the dividing membrane is called the cell plate.

  5. E. If the cell that has undergone mitosis originally had the diploid (2n) number of chromosomes, then what number of chromosomes will the nuclei in the two new cells have?

    The nuclei in the two new cells will still have a diploid number of 2n because chromosomes duplicate before mitosis, maintaining the same number as the parent cell.

  6. F. Can mitosis ever be used for reproduction?

    No, mitosis cannot be used for reproduction. Reproduction typically involves meiosis, which is the process by which sperm and eggs are produced. Mitosis requires a cell to have already formed and then duplicates it, resulting in identical daughter cells.

  7. G. What parts of plants are most impacted by mitosis?

    Mitosis impacts the entire plant, but it has the most significant impact on the growth of the plant. Mitotic activity is particularly concentrated in regions where growth is actively occurring.

  8. H. Why might mitosis be easier to study in the tip of the root?

    Mitosis is easier to study in the tip of the root because this is where active growth of the plant happens. Mitotic activity increases toward the root cap, and gravity guides the growth of the root, making it a suitable location for studying mitosis.

  9. I. Where else in a plant might you find a large amount of mitotic cell division occurring?

    A large amount of mitotic cell division can also be found in buds and the cambium layer of a plant.

  10. J. How might the mitotic index be applied in agriculture?

    The mitotic index can be applied in agriculture to determine the appropriate planting season and environmental conditions for various crops. It helps farmers assess the impact of environmental factors on plant growth. For example, it can inform farmers about the optimal season for planting and harvesting crops like corn based on mitotic activity and sunlight requirements.

  11. K. What did you compute to be the mitotic index of the combined six slides (assuming there are 54 total cells)?

    The mitotic index of the combined six slides is 5.5.

  12. In comparison to the indexes reflected in Figure 8, from approximately which area of a root was the sample taken?

    The sample was taken from the stem, as indicated by the mitotic index of 5.5.

Updated: Dec 29, 2023
Cite this page

Cell Categorization and Enumeration: A Lab Exercise Without Experimentation. (2016, May 06). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/document/mitosis-lab

Cell Categorization and Enumeration: A Lab Exercise Without Experimentation essay
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