Biology Write Up If Mitosis
Title:
Objective:
The objective of this experiment is to see the stages of mitosis in a garlic root tip.
Apparatus:
Garlic roots
5 Molar hydrochloric acid
Toluidine blue stain
2 watch glasses or small sample tubes
Hollow glass blocks
Pipettes
Microscope slides and cover slips
Pair of fine forceps
Filter paper
Microscope with magnifications of x100 and x400
Stop watch
Method:
1. Firstly cut out about 1cm from several root tips of growing garlic roots. Choose root tips which are white and have rounded edges, not ones that are turning brown
2. Place the root tips in a hollow glass block containing 2cm of 5M hydrochloric acid solution and leave it immersed in the solution for exactly 5 minuets
3. After 5 minutes remove the garlic root tips from the hydrochloric acid solution and place them in the watch glass containing 5cm of cold water. Leave them in there for approximately 4-5 minutes.
4. After 4-5 minutes remove the root tips and dry them on the filter paper. Caution should be used as the root tips are very fragile
5. Transfer one of the garlic root tips to the clean microscope slide. Cut about 2-3 mm from the rounded growing tip. Keep this growing tip and discard the rest.
6. Break up the root tip with the mounted needle (this is called maceration). Add one small drop of toluidine blue and leave to stain for 2 minutes
7. Cover with the cover slip and blot firmly with several layers of filter/ tissue paper and press gently to spread to the root tip.
8. View on the microscope (x400 magnification) and look for cells with visible chromosomes and watch the cells. The microscope will take some adjusting to enable you to see the cells clearly
9. If it is unsuccessful repeat steps 5-8 using another of the root tips.
Safety:
When conducting an experiment there are factors concerning safety that need to be taken into account. Firstly, in this experiment a 5 molar hydrochloric acid solution is used. The hydrochloric acid is corrosive and therefore should be
Objective:
The objective of this experiment is to see the stages of mitosis in a garlic root tip.
Apparatus:
Garlic roots
5 Molar hydrochloric acid
Toluidine blue stain
2 watch glasses or small sample tubes
Hollow glass blocks
Pipettes
Microscope slides and cover slips
Pair of fine forceps
Filter paper
Microscope with magnifications of x100 and x400
Stop watch
Method:
1. Firstly cut out about 1cm from several root tips of growing garlic roots. Choose root tips which are white and have rounded edges, not ones that are turning brown
2. Place the root tips in a hollow glass block containing 2cm of 5M hydrochloric acid solution and leave it immersed in the solution for exactly 5 minuets
3. After 5 minutes remove the garlic root tips from the hydrochloric acid solution and place them in the watch glass containing 5cm of cold water. Leave them in there for approximately 4-5 minutes.
4. After 4-5 minutes remove the root tips and dry them on the filter paper. Caution should be used as the root tips are very fragile
5. Transfer one of the garlic root tips to the clean microscope slide. Cut about 2-3 mm from the rounded growing tip. Keep this growing tip and discard the rest.
6. Break up the root tip with the mounted needle (this is called maceration). Add one small drop of toluidine blue and leave to stain for 2 minutes
7. Cover with the cover slip and blot firmly with several layers of filter/ tissue paper and press gently to spread to the root tip.
8. View on the microscope (x400 magnification) and look for cells with visible chromosomes and watch the cells. The microscope will take some adjusting to enable you to see the cells clearly
9. If it is unsuccessful repeat steps 5-8 using another of the root tips.
Safety:
When conducting an experiment there are factors concerning safety that need to be taken into account. Firstly, in this experiment a 5 molar hydrochloric acid solution is used. The hydrochloric acid is corrosive and therefore should be