Cell Structure and Function types and transport

Cell Structure and Function types and transport

Cell Structure and Function:
Cell Types and
T
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a
n
s
p
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t
Margaret
Vorndam,
M.S. Version 42-003700-01

Lab Report Assistant
This document is not meant to be a substitute for a formal laboratory
report. The Lab Report Assistant is simply a summary of the
experiment ’s questions, diagrams if needed, and data tables that
should be addressed in a formal lab report. The intent is to facilitate
students’ writing of lab reports by providing this information in an
editable file which can be sent to an instructor.

Obser vations

Data Table 1: Cell Structures

Prokaryote Cell Structure

Organism name:

Flagella

Eukaryotic Cell Structure

Organism name:

Pseudopodia

Cell membrane

Capsule or slime layer Nucleoid

Nucleus

Cytoplasm

Plasma membrane

Contractile vacuole

Cytoplasm Ribosome Thylakoid

vacuole Endospore

Endospore

Cell wall

Food

Data Table 2: Diffusion Rate Comparison

Medium
Semisolid
(Gelatin)
Liquid (Water)

Beginning

End Time, T1

Length of
Time in hours

Movement
of color

Rate of
diffusion in

Data Table 3: Diffusion through a Differentially Permeable Membrane

At
Beg
inn
ing

At End of Exercise

What are
its
contents?

Dialysis Tubing

Beaker Water

What it
its
initial
color?

What is
its final
color?

Benedict’
s te s t
color

NA

What are its
final
contents?

Exercise 1: Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes Differences in Cell Structure and Function
Results
1. What differences are observed between the two cells that were drawn?

2. List the specific cell part that each cell type possesses to:
Prokaryote
Eukaryot
e
Store food?
Reproduce?

Questions
A. With which cell type, prokaryote or eukaryote, are you most familiar?

B. Which cell type would be most successful in extreme environments? Why?

C. Because the Prokaryote bacteria are generally 3 µm or less in length, they may not exhibit
specific structures under a compound light microscope. What type of microscope would be a
better choice for viewing bacteria?

D. Research amoebas online and give a few examples including where they are found and what
energy source they use.

E. Discuss whether cyanobacteria and amoebas are beneficial or detrimental to humans and to
the environment in general.

Exercise 2: Eukaryotes – Plant and Animal
Cell
Structure
and
Function
Results
1. What differences are observed between the two cells that were drawn?

2. List the cell part that each cell type possesses to:
Regulate
water content?
Produce energy to
power cell
Store food?
Reproduce?

Plant
Vacuole
Chloroplast
Plastid or Vacuole

Animal
Vacuole
Mitochondria
Vacuole

Questions
A. With which cell type, plant or animal, are you most familiar?

B. Which cell type would be most successful in extreme environments? Why?

C. Outline the general differences between plant and animal cells in Table 1. Then outline the
similarities.
Table 1: Comparison of Structure and Function: Animal and Plant Cells
Animal
Cells
Many lysosomes
Can be phagocytic
Contain cell membrane
Contain centrioles
Contain many vacuoles
Round in shape
Go through Photosynthesis
Eukaryotic
Contain nucleus

Plant Cells
Differences
:
Larger in size
Contain chloroplasts
Contain a cell wall made of cellulose
Contain plastids
Contain chlorophyll for Photosynthesis
Contains single, large vacuole
Similarities
:

Exercise 3: Transport of Materials through
Cell
Membranes – An Example of Passive
Transport
Questions
A. Which medium exhibited the fastest rate of diffusion?

B. What might be reasons to explain the differences in the rate of diffusion?

C. Graph the two sets of results from Table 2 on the same graph using a computer spreadsheet
program and include this graph in your report. Why is simultaneous graphing of the results useful
here? What type of graph would best demonstrate rates of diffusion in gelatin versus liquid? Hint:
The graph should show a continuity from To to T1 for both mediums.

Discussion
A. Were your two hypotheses supported or refuted?

B. How might the rate of diffusion be increased? Decreased?

C. How might this be tested?

D. Why is this exercise be an example of passive transport?

E. Why must the spread of the coloring in the gelatin be monitored? For example, why can it not
just be left for 10 hours before the measurement is taken?

F. What would be a graphic method to detect when the rate of diffusion in the gelatin was at
maximum and was beginning to slow?

G. Construct a table that compares your results to the average of your classmates’ results, if
available. Indicate how many classmates’ results are represented in the average (N=?). Include it
in your report. Are results similar? If not, what might explain the differences in outcomes?

Exercise 4: Transport of Materials through
Cell
Membranes – An Example of Active
Transport
Questions
A. What are the test substances?

B. Why did a color change occur in the jar water? What does the color change indicate?

C. Why did a color change occur in the dialysis bag? What does the color change indicate?

D. What does the Benedict ’s reagent test detect? What does the test of the jar water indicate? E.
What DID NOT diffuse across the dialysis bag membrane? Why?

Discussion
A. Was your hypothesis supported or refuted?

B. How might the dialysis membrane tubing be similar to a plasma membrane?

C. What type of transport mechanism does this exercise simulate?

D. What can be concluded from this exercise?

Laborator y Summar y
What have you learned from doing this laboratory?