New
New
Year 10
OCR
Foundation

Observing mitosis in plant cells using a light microscope

I can use a light microscope to observe plant cells in different stages of mitosis.

New
New
Year 10
OCR
Foundation

Observing mitosis in plant cells using a light microscope

I can use a light microscope to observe plant cells in different stages of mitosis.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A light microscope can be used to observe plant cells in different stages of mitosis (e.g. from onion root tip).
  2. The parts of a light microscope and their functions.
  3. The sequence of steps for setting up a light microscope to observe cells, including changing the magnification & focus.
  4. Explaining observations from microscopy using ideas about what happens during stages of the cell cycle.

Common misconception

Recognising that after cell growth DNA condenses to form visible chromosomes and the nuclear membrane breaks down.

There are slides that aim to show the difference between DNA held within the nucleus and visible chromosomes where DNA has condensed. There is also a check for understanding question and practice task question to reinforce this concept.

Keywords

  • Light microscope - A type of microscope that uses visible light and a system of lenses to generate magnified images of small objects.

  • Mitosis - A type of cell division that produces genetically identical cells.

  • Lens - A piece of glass or other transparent material with curved sides, used in a microscope to magnify objects.

  • Magnification - Making small objects appear larger in order to see more detail.

  • Focus - A point where light rays converge to form an image with clarity.

Students could use the microscopes to identify the stages of mitosis themselves.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Light microscopes, prepared slides.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
What word describes making objects appear larger using a lens?
focus
Correct answer: magnification
resolution
Q2.
What are the smallest living units of life?
tissues
organs
virus
Correct answer: cells
Q3.
What is this piece of scientific equipment called?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: microscope, light microscope
Q4.
What is mitosis?
A type of cell division that creates four different cells.
The process by which the sex cells are formed.
Correct answer: A type of cell division that creates two genetically identical cells.
Q5.
Match each stage of the cell cycle to the description of what happens?
Correct Answer:stage 1,DNA and sub-cellular structures are copied.

DNA and sub-cellular structures are copied.

Correct Answer:stage 2,Chromosomes line up in the middle, are pulled apart. Nucleus divides.

Chromosomes line up in the middle, are pulled apart. Nucleus divides.

Correct Answer:stage 3,Division of cytoplasm and cell membrane.

Division of cytoplasm and cell membrane.

Q6.
Which of the following is not true for mitosis?
Correct answer: Daughter cells have half the amount of DNA.
Two genetically identical cells are produced.
Multicellular organisms use mitosis for growth and repair.

6 Questions

Q1.
Which part of the microscope is the line pointing towards?
An image in a quiz
eyepiece lens
coarse focus wheel
Correct answer: objective lens
stage
Q2.
In which two places does mitosis take place in an onion?
Correct answer: tips of shoots
outer layer of skin
Correct answer: tips of roots
inner layer of skin
Q3.
Put these stages in order to show how a microscope should be used?
1 - Turn the objective lens to the lowest power.
2 - Clip the specimen onto the stage and turn on the light.
3 - Use the coarse focus wheel to roughly focus the image.
4 - Use the fine focus wheel to get a sharp focus.
5 - Turn the objective lens to a higher power to increase the magnification.
Q4.
The image has circled a stage of the cell cycle, what is happening?
An image in a quiz
Cell growth; DNA and sub-cellular structures are being copied.
Correct answer: Chromosomes are lining up along the middle of the cell.
Cytoplasm and cell membrane are dividing.
Q5.
The image has circled a stage of the cell cycle, what is happening?
An image in a quiz
The cytoplasm and cell membrane are dividing.
Correct answer: Cell growth; DNA and sub-cellular structures are being copied.
The chromosomes are being pulled to either end of the cell.
Q6.
Which statements describe what has happened to the circled cell?
An image in a quiz
The DNA is decondensed and held within a nucleus.
Correct answer: The DNA has condensed to form visible chromosomes.
The nuclear membrane is formed around the DNA.
Correct answer: The nuclear membrane has broken down.
Q4 Dimarion/shutterstock Q5 Dimarion/shutterstock Q6 Dimarion/shutterstock