Lab 2 Cell Structure and Function BIO101L
Student Name: Click here to enter text.
Access Code (located on the lid of your lab kit): Click here to enter text.
Pre-Lab Questions
1. Identify three major similarities and differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic
cells.
Both types of cells contain ribosomes, cytoplasm and DNA. Eukaryotic cells do not have a
nucleus and prokaryotic cells do. Prokaryotic cells DNA have the attribute of being circular
and eukaryotic cells are linear.
2. Where is the DNA housed in a prokaryotic cell? Where is it housed in a eukaryotic cell?
In prokaryotic cells, DNA is found in the nucleus. Prokaryotic cells DNA is housed within the
cytoplasm as there is no nucleus.
3. Identify three structures which provide support and protection in a eukaryotic cell.
The cytoskeleton, cytoplasm and cell membrane provide support and protection in a
eukaryotic cell.
Experiment 1: Identifying Cell Structures
Post-Lab Questions
1. Label each of the arrows in the following slide image:
Structure Identity
A Chromosomes.
, Lab 2 Cell Structure and Function BIO101L
B Nucleus.
C Cytoplasm.
D Cell wall.
2. What is the difference between the rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum?
Rough endoplasmic reticulum contain ribosomes on the surface and smooth endoplasmic
reticulum does not have ribosomes.
3. Would an animal cell be able to survive without mitochondria? Why or why not?
Without mitochondria, animal cells cannot perform cellular respiration or convert food
energy into ATP. They could not survive indefinitely because some products from anaerobic
respiration could build up and become toxic, like lactic acid.
4. 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?
This would describe a prokaryotic cell due to the criteria of having a cell wall, but no
nucleus or mitochondria.
5. 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.
This would be due to plant cells having chloroplasts which have chlorophyll present within
them. Chloroplasts absorb sunlight and this means they would not be present within the
roots of a plant, which does not absorb sunlight. Thus, the chloroplasts cause the greenish
color within.
Experiment 2: Create a Cell
Post-Lab Questions
1. What cell structures did you place in the plant cell that you did not place in the animal
cell?
Chloroplasts are in the plant cell and produce energy through photosynthesis. Because
animal cells do not contain chloroplasts, they use mitochondria to produce energy from
food. Plant cells also contain a cell wall, however I neglected to put this into my plant
cell.
2. Is there any difference in the structure of the two cells?
Structurally the two cells are similar as they are eukaryotic cells. Both plant and animal
cells contain a nucleus, mitochondria and golgi apparatus. Plant cells contain cell walls
and chloroplasts, while animal cells do not.
3. What structures do cells have for support in organisms that lack cell walls?
Student Name: Click here to enter text.
Access Code (located on the lid of your lab kit): Click here to enter text.
Pre-Lab Questions
1. Identify three major similarities and differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic
cells.
Both types of cells contain ribosomes, cytoplasm and DNA. Eukaryotic cells do not have a
nucleus and prokaryotic cells do. Prokaryotic cells DNA have the attribute of being circular
and eukaryotic cells are linear.
2. Where is the DNA housed in a prokaryotic cell? Where is it housed in a eukaryotic cell?
In prokaryotic cells, DNA is found in the nucleus. Prokaryotic cells DNA is housed within the
cytoplasm as there is no nucleus.
3. Identify three structures which provide support and protection in a eukaryotic cell.
The cytoskeleton, cytoplasm and cell membrane provide support and protection in a
eukaryotic cell.
Experiment 1: Identifying Cell Structures
Post-Lab Questions
1. Label each of the arrows in the following slide image:
Structure Identity
A Chromosomes.
, Lab 2 Cell Structure and Function BIO101L
B Nucleus.
C Cytoplasm.
D Cell wall.
2. What is the difference between the rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum?
Rough endoplasmic reticulum contain ribosomes on the surface and smooth endoplasmic
reticulum does not have ribosomes.
3. Would an animal cell be able to survive without mitochondria? Why or why not?
Without mitochondria, animal cells cannot perform cellular respiration or convert food
energy into ATP. They could not survive indefinitely because some products from anaerobic
respiration could build up and become toxic, like lactic acid.
4. 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?
This would describe a prokaryotic cell due to the criteria of having a cell wall, but no
nucleus or mitochondria.
5. 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.
This would be due to plant cells having chloroplasts which have chlorophyll present within
them. Chloroplasts absorb sunlight and this means they would not be present within the
roots of a plant, which does not absorb sunlight. Thus, the chloroplasts cause the greenish
color within.
Experiment 2: Create a Cell
Post-Lab Questions
1. What cell structures did you place in the plant cell that you did not place in the animal
cell?
Chloroplasts are in the plant cell and produce energy through photosynthesis. Because
animal cells do not contain chloroplasts, they use mitochondria to produce energy from
food. Plant cells also contain a cell wall, however I neglected to put this into my plant
cell.
2. Is there any difference in the structure of the two cells?
Structurally the two cells are similar as they are eukaryotic cells. Both plant and animal
cells contain a nucleus, mitochondria and golgi apparatus. Plant cells contain cell walls
and chloroplasts, while animal cells do not.
3. What structures do cells have for support in organisms that lack cell walls?
