Cell Theory Experiment: Chloroplasts and Green Pigments in Elodea

Introduction

The cell theory refers to the idea that cells are the basic unit of structure in all living things. Microscopy made this possible in the mid 17th century (Tavassoli, M. 1980). The theory says that new cells are formed from other existing cells, and that the cell is a fundamental unit of structure, function and organization in all-living organisms (Tavassoli, M. 1980).

Prokaryotes are single-celled organisms that are the earliest and most primitive forms of life on earth. Prokaryotes are able to live and thrive in various types of environments including extreme habitats such as hydrothermal vents, hot springs, swamps, wetlands, and the guts of animals (Bailey).

They have no true nucleus, because the DNA is not contained within a membrane or separated from the rest of the cell, but is coiled up in a region of the cytoplasm called the nucleoid (Bailey).

A eukaryote cell is any organism whose cells contain a nucleus and other structures organelles enclosed within membranes. In addition to the nucleus, eukaryotic cells may contain several other types of organelle, which may include mitochondria, chloroplasts, the endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi apparatus, and lysosomes (Britannica, 2014).

Hypothesis: Because elodea is green, it will produce a green pigment due to the presents of chloroplasts.

Materials and Methods

Use an eyedropper to obtain a few drops from the bottom of an Amoeba culture. An eyedropper is helpful because it allows you to gather a small amount of liquid and place it on an object in a small amount. Place the organisms on a microscope slide.

Then add a coverslip and use a compound microscope to locate a living Amoeba. Using a cover slip will help keep the Amoeba in place and help locate them. View the Amoeba on 4x or 10x. Decrease the light intensity and observe an Amoeba for a few minutes. Examine a prepared slide of stained Amoeba. Sketch an Amoeba on a separate piece of paper with either a pen or pencil. This will help you compare the different cells and organize your drawings (Vodopich/Moore, 2014).

Place a small ring of methylcellulose on a microscope slide to slow the paramecium. Then place a drop from a culture containing paramecium inside the methylcellulose ring. Use a toothpick to mix the methylcellulose with the drop of water from the culture of paramecium. Then add a cover slip to help contain the cells and allow them to spread out the paramecium. Observe them with our compound microscope. Cilia are on the surface of paramecium, which are short hair like structures used for locomotion. Then sketch a paramecium with a pencil or pen on separate piece of paper (Vodopich/Moore, 2014).