Plant Cell – A plant cell is a type of eukaryotic cell that is found in plants and some other organisms such as algae. It has several distinctive features that distinguish it from other types of cells, including a cell wall, chloroplasts, and a large central vacuole.

Here are some of the key features of a typical plant cell:

1. Cell wall: The cell wall is a rigid structure that surrounds the plant cell membrane. It is made up of cellulose, a complex sugar that gives the cell wall its strength and rigidity.
2. Chloroplasts: Chloroplasts are organelles that contain chlorophyll, a green pigment that is essential for photosynthesis. Chloroplasts capture light energy and use it to produce glucose from carbon dioxide and water.
3. Central vacuole: The central vacuole is a large, fluid-filled organelle that takes up most of the space inside the plant cell. It helps maintain the shape of the cell and stores nutrients, water, and waste products.
4. Nucleus: The nucleus is the control center of the cell. It contains the plant cell’s DNA, which contains the genetic information that controls the cell’s activities.
5. Mitochondria: Mitochondria are organelles that generate energy for the cell through cellular respiration. They convert glucose into ATP, which is used as a source of energy for cellular processes.
6. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER): The ER is a network of membranes that helps with the transport of proteins and other molecules within the cell.

Overall, the plant cell is a highly specialized type of cell that is adapted to perform the unique functions necessary for plant growth and survival.

Fig image of a Plant Cell

Animal Cell – An animal cell is a type of eukaryotic cell that is found in animals and humans. It is similar to a plant cell in some ways, but it lacks some of the distinctive features of a plant cell, such as a cell wall and chloroplasts.

Here are some of the key features of a typical animal cell:

1. Cell membrane: The cell membrane is a thin, flexible layer that surrounds the animal cell. It controls the movement of substances in and out of the cell.
2. Nucleus: The nucleus is the control center of the cell. It contains the animal cell’s DNA, which contains the genetic information that controls the cell’s activities.
3. Mitochondria: Mitochondria are organelles that generate energy for the cell through cellular respiration. They convert glucose into ATP, which is used as a source of energy for cellular processes.
4. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER): The ER is a network of membranes that helps with the transport of proteins and other molecules within the cell.
5. Golgi apparatus: The Golgi apparatus is a stack of membrane-bound sacs that modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids for transport within the cell or secretion outside the cell.
6. Lysosomes: Lysosomes are organelles that contain digestive enzymes to break down various biological molecules, including proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates.

Overall, the animal cell is a highly specialized type of cell that is adapted to perform the unique functions necessary for animal growth and survival. It lacks some of the features of a plant cell, such as a cell wall and chloroplasts, but it has other unique organelles, such as lysosomes, that are not found in plant cells.

Aim	To prepare stained temporary mounts of onion peel and human cheek cells and to record observations and draw their labelled diagrams.
Apparatus required	Onion, slides, coverslips, watch glass, petridish, forceps, needles, dropper, glycerin, blotting paper, blade/knife, safranin solution and a microscope.

Procedure

1 . Take a medium-sized onion and use a knife to cut its outer surface. 2 . Use forceps to remove the peel of the onion. 3 . Use a needle to separate a small portion of the onion’s epidermis (peel). 4 . Prepare a watch glass with dilute safranin solution. 5 . Place the small peel in the watch glass with a brush and let it stain for 3-5 minutes. 6 . Transfer the stained peel to another watch glass containing distilled water to remove any excess stain. 7 . Place two drops of water or glycerin in the center of a clean and dry slide. 8 . Transfer the stained peel onto the slide using a needle and brush, gently flattening it if it curls. 9 . Cut the peel into a square shape using a blade. 10 . Place a clean and dry coverslip gently onto the slide, making sure no air bubbles enter. 11 . Press the coverslip with a needle for even spreading of the glycerin. 12 . Remove any extra stain and water with blotting paper. 13 . Clean the sides of the coverslip with dry blotting paper. 14 . Finally, place the slide under the lens of a microscope and record your observations.

Observations

1 . Cells with irregular shapes are observed. 2 . A prominent nucleus is visible in the center of each cell. 3 . The boundary of each cell is marked by a thin membrane called the plasma membrane. 4 . There is no intercellular space visible between the cells. 5 . No large vacuoles or cell walls are observed.