Percentage of Cells in Metaphase

Percentage of Cells in Metaphase

Matt Williams

22/04/2012

22/05/2012

The lab was done to show the percentage of cells that are in metaphase on average in both onion and fish cells. Already prepared slides were seen through microscopes on varying intensities until cell stages could be identified. One person tallied the results, and kept track of how many cells were in each stage. After 100 were counted, the inspection stopped. This was done for both onion and fish slides. It was discovered that in plant cells, that 21 of them were in metaphase. In fish, 6 cells going through metaphase were present.

The knowledge that would be needed is understanding what a cell will look like when it goes through its various stages. Common understanding of how to use a microscope is also required.

The purpose of the experiment was to identify the percent of each stage of cell division present in both kinds of cells. The cells will be as follows; Plant: 20, Animal: 16. It should be as such because plants grow much faster and more aggressively than animal cells, and therefore should have more cells going through metaphase.

Materials and Equipment: Prepared slides of Onion root and Fish eggs, a microscope, pencil and paper.

To conduct the experiment and after the microscope is set up, insert either slide, plant or animal, and adjust the microscope as usual until the cells stages can be easily identified. With a partner, one person will count across row by row of cell, naming off what stage the cell is in out loud. The one not looking through the microscope will make a tally chart and count how many cells are in what stage. This one tallying will also keep track of the number. Once one hundred cells have been accounted for, the experiment ends. Restart doing the slide you haven't done yet until finished with both. Figure out the percentage of cells in metaphase.

Diagram:

The results accumulated show that plant cells will, on average, 16.1 cells going through...