Cells Revision Guide by

Joshua

All you need to know

about cells and how to
see them!
This is an
animal This a
cell under plant
a cell
microscop under a
e( cheek microsco
pe(onion
cells).
 Contents of this Revision
Guide
What are cells?
How to make a plant cell slide
How to make a animal cell slide
How to look at your slide using a microsco
Looking at an animal cell
What parts are there to an animal cell.
Looking at a plant cell.
What else is there on a plant cell.
 What Are
Cells?
Cells are the building blocks of all
living things.
They can be seen through a
microscope but you must stain them.
Methylene blue- for an animal cell.
Iodine solution- for plant cells
How to Successfully Make Your
Own Plant Slide
1) Cut a thin layer of onion skin from an
onion with a knife and then gently place
it on a glass slide.
2) Add a drop of iodine solution to the
onion, the iodine stains the cells so we
can see the cells.
3) Carefully lower a cover slip over the
onion skin with a mounting needle,
making sure you don’t trap any air
bubbles.
How to Successfully Make Your
Own Animal Slide
1) Take a new unused cotton bud and
wipe it around the inside of your
cheek.
2) Carefully smear a small amount of
the saliva and cheek cells on a glass
slide. Then put your cotton bud in
disinfectant and throw it into the
bin.
3) Stain the saliva with a drop
methylene blue.
How to Look at Your Slide Using
a Microscope
1) Clip a slide onto the stage using the
stage clips(make sure the light is in the
middle of the slide).
2) Then select the lowest powered
objective lens and turn the focusing
knob so the objective lens is just above
the slide.
3) Turn the focusing knob until you get a
clear image. If you need to see the
slide with greater magnification turn
the objective lens onto another more
What Does an Animal Cell Look
Like?
What Do the Different Parts of
an Animal Cell Do?
Nucleus: Controls what the cell does
and what happens inside it.

Cytoplasm: Jelly-like stuff where all the

chemical reactions take place.

Cell membrane: A thin skin around the

cell- it holds the cell together and
controls what goes in and out of the
cell.
What Does a Plant Cell Look
Like?
 Plant Cells Have Everything an
Animal Cell Has, but With a Few
Cell Wall : Made of cellulose and gives
support to the cell.

Vacuole : A large space filled with cell

sap-a weak solution of sugar and
salt.

Chloroplasts : Contain chlorophyll used

for photosynthesis.
 More About Cells
Say for example there is a palisade
cell.
A group of these would make palisade
tissue.
When this tissue works with other
tissues, it is called an organ.
When different organs work together
they are known as an organ system.