Surigao del Sur State University

Main Campus
Tandag City, Surigao del Sur

Name: Glaiza Nicole Q. Cuarteron Course and Year: BSED Science – 3rd Year
Date Submitted: December 22, 2022 Section: Block A

ACTIVITY NO. 5
OBSERVING MITOSIS IN PLANT CELLS
(Modified from Source: https://studylib.net/doc/7741794/mitosis-lab)

Mitosis is divided into four phases: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.
Interphase is not considered a part of mitosis. It is the first stage of the cell cycle. In many plants, there
are growth regions called meristems where mitosis is ongoing. Meristems are found in the tips of
plant roots and shoots. Because of this new normal set-up we cannot use microscope to observe
mitosis. But despite of this, we will still attain the following objectives:

Purpose/Objective:
 Identify the phase of mitosis that different cells in an onion root-tip are undergoing.
 Determine the relative length of time each phase of mitosis takes in onion root-tip cells.

Procedure:
1. Check the captured image of onion root tip (meristem) in page 94 of this module. Examine the
meristem carefully.

2. Choose a sample of about 50 cells. Look for a group of cells that appear to have been actively
dividing at the time that the slide was made. The cells will appear in rows, so it should be easy
to keep track of them. You can draw a square to enclose your chosen sample of 50 cells.
The dark staining bodies are the nuclei.

3. For each of the cells in your sample, identify the stage of mitosis and place a mark in the “Tally
Marks” column beside the appropriate phase in Table 1 (See Data Results Table 1.)

4. When you have classified each cell in your sample, count the tally marks for each phase and fill
in the “Count” column. In which phase of mitosis were the greatest numbers of cells? In which
phase of mitosis did you observe the fewest number of cells?

5. Calculate the percentage of cells found in each phase. Divide the number of cells in a phase
by the total number of cells in your sample, and multiply by 100. Enter this figure under the
“Percentage” column of Table 1.
The percentage of cells found in each phase is a measure of how long each phase
lasts. For example, if 25 percent of the cells are in prophase, then prophase takes 25 percent
of the total time it takes for a cell to undergo mitosis.

Mitosis in onion cells takes about 80 minutes. Calculate the actual time for each phase
using this information and the percentage you have just determined. Use the following
equation to find the duration of each phase of mitosis in onion cells. Enter the time (in
minutes) of each phase under the “Time (in minutes)” column of the table.

Duration of phase (in minutes) = percentage/100 x 80 minutes.

6. Collect data from 15 of your classmates (group data). Fill in the percentage and time
information using the data collected by the entire class in Table 2.

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Data/Results:

A. Identify each phase of mitosis.

Interphase Prophase Metaphase

Anaphase Telophase

Table 1. Relative Duration of Each Phase of Mitosis.

Phase of Mitosis Tally Marks Count Percentage Time (in minutes)

Table 2. Relative Duration of Each Phase of Mitosis from the Class.

Phase of Mitosis Total Count Percentage Time (in minutes)

Discussion:

1. According to your data table, which phase of mitosis lasts the longest? Why might this phase
require more time than other phases of mitosis?
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2. According to your data table, which phase of mitosis takes the least amount of time?

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3. Compare your results in 10 of your classmates? Is it similar or not? Based your answer in Table
2. (Be specific and compare all four (4) phases)

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4. Many of the cells of the root meristem are not undergoing mitosis; rather they are in a stage
of the cell cycle called ___________________.

5. Based upon the interpretations made above, interphase appears to be much _______________
(shorter / longer) than mitosis.

6. Why is it incorrect to say that cells in interphase are “resting”?

Conclusion:

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Main Campus
Tandag City, Surigao del Sur

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ONION ROOT TIP

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