PRE-LAB QUESTIONS
1. Identify three major similarities and differences between prokaryotic and
eukaryotic cells.
Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells have cellular membranes. They both have ribosomes.
And they also have vesicles. Prokaryotes are unicellular while eukaryotic cells are
multicellular. Eukaryotic cells have a mitochondria, but prokaryotic cells don’t. Eukaryotic
cells have a golgi apparatus. Prokaryotic cells don’t.
2. Where is the DNA housed in a prokaryotic cell? Where is it housed in a eukaryotic
cell?
DNA is located in the cytoplasm in a prokaryotic cell. DNA is located in the nucleus in a
eukaryotic cell.
3. Identify three structures that provide support and protection in a eukaryotic cell.
The cell wall, cell membrane, and cytoskeleton provide support and protection in a
eukaryotic cell.
® eScience Labs, 2018
EXERCISE 1: IDENTIFYING CELL STRUCTURES
Post-Lab Questions
1. Label each of the arrows in the following slide image:
1.
2. A Chromosomes
3. B Nucleus
4. C Cytoplasm
5. D Cell Wall
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6. What is the difference between the rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum?
The rough endoplasmic reticulum is covered with ribosomes and is important in protein
synthesis and production. The smooth endoplasmic reticulum lacks ribosomes and is
important in enzyme and lipid synthesis.
2. Would an animal cell be able to survive without mitochondria? Why or why not?
An animal would not be able to survive without mitochondria because it won’t have a source
of energy to keep it living. Thus, it would die.
3. What could you determine about a specimen if you observed a slide image
showing the specimen with a cell wall, but no nucleus or mitochondria?
I would define the specimen as a prokaryotic cell. For example, bacteria.
4. Hypothesize why parts of a plant, such as the leaves, are green, but other parts,
such as the roots, are not. Use scientific reasoning to support your hypothesis.
Parts of a plant, such as the leaves, are green due to the presence of chlorophyll pigment.
They absorb the sun’s energy and are used for photosynthesis.
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EXERCISE 2: EXPLORING CELL SIZE
Data Tables
Table 2: Surface Area and Volume in Relation to Cell Size
Surface Area Surface Area:Volume Time to Center of the
Radius (µm) Volume (µm3)
(µm2) Ratio Cell (s)
2827.43 0.075
15 2827.43 14137.17 14137.17
= 0. 1999
11309.73 0.15
30 11309.73 113097.34 113097.34
= 0. 0999
25446.90 0.225
45 25446.90 381703.51 381703.51
= 0. 0666
45238.93 0.3
60 45238.93 904778.68 904778.68
= 0. 0499
70685.83 0.375
75 70685.83 1767145.87 1767145.87
= 0. 0399
101787.60 0.45
90 101787.60 3053638.06 3053638.06
= 0. 0333
138544.24 0.525
105 138544.24 4849048.26 4849048.26
= 0. 0285
180955.74 0.6
120 180955.74 7238229.47 7238229.47
= 0. 0249
229022.10 0.675
135 229022.10 10305994.70 10305994.70
= 0. 0222
282743.34 0.75
150 282743.34 14137166.94 14137166.94
= 0. 02
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Post-Lab Questions
1. Create a graph of the time to the center of the cell as a function of the surface
area:volume ratio.
2. How did the surface area affect diffusion to the center of the cell? What about
volume? What about the surface area-to-volume ratio?
The volume grows more quickly as the cell gets bigger than the surface area because
volume is squared but surface area is cubed. Diffusion requires more time and is less
effective when there is a greater volume but a smaller surface area.
3. How does this experiment demonstrate the need for cells to maintain a smaller
size?
Cells need to maintain a smaller size because if they keep on growing, they won’t be
able to get rid of the waste in the cell and the cell won’t function properly.
® eScience Labs, 2018
