SCI5952 - BIOLOGY – Laboratory Reports

SB4.1 Observing Cells of the Body

Complete lab on September 1 & 8, 2022

Lab diagrams due in class and report due on Brightspace September 13, 2022 before the beginning of class.

Late: 10% deducted per day (including weekend)

Instructions

A. Title Page

• Should appear on a separate page

• Information to include the following:
- Complete title of lab as it appears in lab
- Date lab is handed in
- Submitted by: Student’s name
- Submitted to: Instructor’s name

B. Lab Write Up

The SB4.1 lab report will contain the following 3 sections:

• Purpose: brief description of the objective(s) of the lab; why the lab is being done;
usually one to two sentences in length that match the handout
• Observations: are generally recorded in a specific format that is consistent with the
type of data being collected. Examples include diagrams, charts, graphs, tables, etc.
*see information below
• Conclusions: in developing conclusions, you refer directly back to your observations.
Ensure that you have met the purpose of the lab. In the formatting of our labs,
conclusions are presented in the form of questions that are to be answered. Number
each answer to correspond with the question asked.
Note:

• Keep sentences short and simple

• Use scientific terminology whenever possible
• Scientific terms should be spelled correctly. All other spelling and grammar will not be
marked, but it will be corrected.
• Each student is responsible for writing and submitting their own lab
• Labs are handed in on Brightspace and 10% per day will be deducted from labs handed
in late, which is past the deadline (time and date)

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LABORATORY EXERCISE

Ω Do the lab exercise described below. Hand in a report to be marked. No grade will be given
for SB4.1 until the lab and report are completed.

Ω Lab reports should be word-processed and include the following parts:

*Title Page Write the title in the centre.

Write your name, student number and date on the lower right side.
Title State the title of the lab
Purpose State in one sentence the reason for doing the lab
Materials/Apparatus List in a column(s) all materials and/or apparatus used during the lab.
Procedure Write in numbered steps what you did to complete the lab.
*Observations Draw, chart, graph or table the data you collect. Your lab
instructor will provide you with instructions as to which method is
required to document collected data.
*Conclusions Write a summary of the results of the lab or answer questions
presented during the lab.
*These 3 sections are to be included in this lab report.

TITLE OBSERVING CELLS OF THE BODY

This lab is designed to demonstrate the theory covered in the first two lessons. You will learn
the parts of a microscope, observe a slide of a human cheek cell, and observe three more body
cells using the images provided. You will make a biological drawing of each different type of
cell you observe.

The lab is worth a total of 10 marks. The microscope quiz is worth 1 mark, the observations are
worth 6 marks, each biological drawing valued at 2 marks, and the conclusions are worth 3
marks.

PURPOSE
To observe and identify parts of a cheek cell, a voluntary muscle cell, and a nerve cell.

MATERIALS AND APPARATUS

digital microscope booklet
appendix

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PROCEDURE
Part A – Microviewer on September 1
1. Obtain a microviewer and a booklet of microviewer slides called ‘Cells of Your Body’ (Set
10).

2. Observe the following two types of cells, reference pictures in Appendix A, and read the
corresponding information in the booklet or in Appendix B: #5 voluntary muscle cells, #7
nerve cells.

3. Using a separate piece of blank paper for each, draw one of each type of cell, labelling at
least four visible cell parts and include the magnification factor as indicated in Appendix
B. Make sure to follow the directions outlined for drawing proper biological diagrams.
Use your rubric, found on page 6, as a guide.

Part B - Microscope on September 8

1. Complete SB4.1 Lab Quiz on Brightspace before September 8

2. Using the blunt end of a toothpick, gently scrape the inner surface of your cheek.

3. Transfer the scraping to the centre of the glass slide by gently and in a circular motion,
smearing the toothpick around on the glass slide.

4. Add one drop of methylene blue solution to the smear, and cover with a cover slip. Be
careful not to add too much solution as you will over stain the sample.

5. Locate the cells under low power magnification (40X) and then switch to medium power
(100X) and finally to high power (400X) to draw the cell.

6. On a blank sheet of paper, draw a single cheek cell at high power magnification (400X),
labelling at least 4 cell parts. Make sure to follow the directions outlined for drawing
proper biological diagrams. There is a reference image in Appendix A (page 7) of this
document. Use your rubric, found on page 6, as a guide.
OBSERVATIONS
Your recorded observations will be in the form of biological drawings. You should include three
properly labelled biological drawings, one of each type of cell you observed, and each should be
drawn on a separate piece of blank white paper. Each drawing should have a minimum of four
labels. You will be required to hand in your diagrams for submission.
CONCLUSIONS
1. Explain how the special shape and structure of each of the three different cells is related to
its function.

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LABORATORY REPORT GUIDELINES
Your recorded observations will be in the form of biological drawings. You should include a
total of 3 properly labeled drawings, one drawing of each type of cell you observed, and each
should be drawn on a separate piece of blank white paper. There are 2 marks for each diagram
for a total of 6 marks.
The drawings will be marked with the following in mind:

• Pencil used for diagrams and labels

• Place title, magnification, and date at
the top of the page ________
• Diagrams are at least half a page in
size
• All label lines are straight (ruler used)
and parallel to each other (lines
should not cross, arrows should not
be used)
• All labels are printed using lower case
letters
• All labels are placed on the right-hand side; the left side is only used if necessary (ie too
many labels)
• All labels are lined up (they have the first letter of each label appearing directly below
one another)
• Draw only what you see

Refer to Appendix C: Microscope Handout to see this list and a sample diagram that is larger
than the one above.
Use the rubric, found on page 6, as a guide.

Conclusion: Answer the question on page 3. Your explanation of how the shape and structure
relates to the function of each cell is worth 1 mark each for a total of 3 marks. Your primary
source of information regarding the structure and function of each cell can be found in
Appendix B. You do not need to refer to external sources for information.

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Plagiarism: See policy AA48 online:
http://www.algonquincollege.com/policies/
https://www.algonquincollege.com/policies/files/2021/09/AA48.pdf

“Plagiarism, whether done deliberately or accidentally, is defined as presenting someone else’s

work, in whole or in part, as one’s own. It includes the verbal or written submission of another
work without crediting that source. This applies to ideas, wording, code, graphics, music, and
inventions. It includes all electronic sources, including the Internet, television, video, film, and
recordings, all print and written sources, such as books, periodicals, lyrics, government
publications, promotional materials, and academic assignments; and all verbal sources such as
conversations and interviews. Sharing one’s work with other students is also considered an act
of plagiarism.”
This means that you cannot copy information word for word from online sources, your notes,
handouts or the textbook. Even when putting information into your own words, your material
must be properly cited.
I strongly encourage you to read the information in Appendix B, then turn away from it and
write the information in your own words to avoid plagiarism. Check to make sure that it is not
too similar to the original.
Common conclusion errors include:

• No mention of shape
• No mention of function
• No connection between shape and function
• Plagiarism: wording too similar to or directly copied from notes, handouts, textbook, or
online website

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 Lab 1: Observing Cells of the Body Rubric
Check that the following are completed:

• Brightspace quiz (worth 1 mark)

• All pages are included and attached in order: title page, observations (3 diagrams), conclusion

Voluntary
Cell Cheek Nerve
Muscle
Present Present Present Value
Expectation (check) or (check) or (check) or
missing (x) missing (x) missing (x)
Pencil used for diagram and labels. 0.1
No sketched lines appear 0.1
Place title, magnification, and date at the
0.1
top of the diagram
Title is descriptive and underlined 0.1
Microscope power provided is correct 0.1
Diagram is at least half a page in size and
0.3
accurate
All label lines are straight (ruler used) and
parallel to each other (lines should not 0.1
cross, arrows should not be used)
All labels are printed using lower case
0.1
letters
All labels are placed on the right hand
side; the left side is only used if necessary 0.1
(ie too many labels)
All labels are lined up (they have the first
letter of each label appearing directly 0.1
below one another)
Labels indicate the correct cell part.
0.4
Minimum of 4 labels
Labels are spelt correctly 0.4
Total /2 /2 /2 /6

Conclusion: Clearly indicate how the shape and structure of the cell relate to its function.

Cell Yes No Other Comments Each worth 1 mark

1. Cheek cell

2. Nerve cell

3. Voluntary muscle cell

Total /3
Final Grade: /10

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Appendix A

Images of Cells under the Microscope

Slide 1. Cheek Cell 100x

Slide 2. Neuron (Nerve Cell) 600x

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Slide 3. Voluntary Muscle Cell 900x

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Appendix B
Appendix C