Mitosis and Garlic Root Tips

Mitosis in Plant and Animal Cells
OBJECTIVES
Observe and identify cells undergoing the process of mitosis.
Compare the stages of mitosis in plant cells with these stages in animal cells.
MATERIALS
• compound light microscope
• prepared slides (longitudinal sections of onion or garlic root tips)
• prepared slides (whitefish blastula or other animal tissue)

Procedure
PART 1: MITOSIS IN PLANT CELLS 1. Observe a prepared slide of a longitudinal section of onion or garlic root tips. Use low power to locate the region of actively dividing cells near the end of the root. Using high power, examine individual cells in the region. Find a cell from each stage of mitosis, using the descriptions below. In the space next to each description, draw a cell in that stage as it appears on your slide. Label the visible part of the cell.

Observations

Stage
Plant Cell
Animal Cell
Interphase

Prophase

Metaphase

Anaphase

Telophase

Cytokinesis

Analysis
1. Analyzing Data: which phase of mitosis shows the greatest difference between animal cells and plant cells? Explain your choice.
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Conclusions
1. Drawing Conclusions what role do you think mitosis plays in living things? Justify your answer.
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Meiosis
SEQUENCING/ORGANIZING INFORMATION
In the space provided in the figure below, write the letter of the stage of meiosis from the list below (a–h) that matches each stage in the figure.