Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Region IV-A CALABARZON
Division of Rizal
Binangonan Sub-Office
JANOSA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Janosa, Binangonan, Rizal
School Year 2025-2026
LABORATORY REPORT IN MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION OF ONION EPIDERMAL
CELLS AND HUMAN BUCCAL EPITHELIAL CELLS
Añain, Andrew B.
Antazo, Jerico F.
Cerafica, Jonathan Jr. A.
Chicote, Rhea Jane I
Mercado, Kiel M.
Payumo, Avrylle Angela T.
I. Introduction
Our goal was to see and record the most important structural elements of human buccal
epithelial cells (representing animal cells) and onion epidermal cells (representing plant
cells). Using methylene blue, a simple staining method, we used its basophilic features
to improve the contrast and visibility of cellular components. Under otherwise
transparent cellular structures, the methylene blue stain was absolutely vital.
Nevertheless, settling the minute features of these buildings proved quite difficult. These
difficulties arose from the fundamental restrictions of the microscope's resolution, which
called for careful and patient modifications of the focusing knobs (coarse and fine focus)
in order to provide crisp, sharply-resolved images. The speed and simplicity of
observation were much influenced by the little size of the cellular elements and the
demand for perfect concentration. Our approaches, thorough observations, problems
encountered, and interpretations of the data gathered during this one laboratory session
are all thoroughly recorded in this report. Our debate will be based on a comparative
study of plant and animal cell structures. As expected from established biological
knowledge, substantial variances were found between plant and animal cells. In an
ecosystem, plants have the role of producers, while animals have taken the role of
consumers. Hence, their daily activities and functions vary and so does their cell
structure (Byju’s, 2015) These variations point out the different functional requirements
of these two cell types. Usually defined by the presence of a stiff cell wall made of
cellulose, plant cells offer structural support and protection absent in animal cells.
Chloroplasts, the organelles that enable plant cells to create their own nutrition from
sunlight, also exist. Heterotrophic animal cells, which depend on outside sources for
nourishment, lack this ability. Furthermore, plant cells normally have a big central
vacuole that is vital for preserving turgor pressure and storing several compounds. In
contrast, animal cells may possess few, small vacuoles or lack them completely. The
basic structure of plant and animal cells are comparatively the same. Animal cells are
smaller than the plant cells; they consist of an irregular shape (Lakna Panawala, 2017)
II. Materials
The following materials were used in conducting two distinct experiment, one employing
onion cell (plant cell) and the other human cheek cells (animal cells). Specific materials
were chosen for their function in the preparation and microscopic examination of the
specimen.
Materials Used in Experiment No. 1
Figure Figure Figure Figure Figure
1 2 3 4 5
FigureFigure Figure Figure Figure
6 7 8 9 10
Figure 1 (onion) – Used to get the epidermal layer for observation of
plant cell
Figure 2 (surgical scissors) – Used to cut the epidermal layer
Figure 3 (scalpel) – A bladed instrument used to cut the onion in half
Figure 4 (tweezers) – Used to handle the specimen without damaging it
Figure 5 (coronary dilator) – Used to flatten the specimen on the glass slide
Figure 6 (glass slide) – A flatform for the specimen to place
Figure 7 (cover slip) – Used to flatten and compress the specimen to prevent air
bubbles
from forming
Figure 8 (dropper) – To get the liquid inside the bottle and drop it accurately in the
specimen
Figure 9 (methylene blue) – To enhance the visibility of the specimen under the
microscope
Figure 10 (Microscope) – Used to magnified the specimen for better observation
Materials used in Experiment No.2
Figure Figure Figure Figure Figure Figure
11 12 13 14 15 16
Figure 11 (cotton swab) – Used to obtain the specimen
Figure 12 (glass slide) – A flatform for the specimen to place
Figure 13 (cover slip) – Used to compress the specimen to prevent air bubbles from
forming
Figure 14 (dropper) – To get the liquid inside the bottle and drop it accurately in the
specimen
Figure 15 (methylene blue) – To enhance the visibility of the specimen under the
microscope
Figure 16 (microscope) – Used to magnified the specimen for better observation
III. Procedures
Procedure for Experiment No.1
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3
Remove a thin layer Spread the onion’s
Peel the outer most
of skin (epidermis) epidermis on the
layer of the onion
from the inside glass slide
then cut it in half
using scalpel
Step 6 Step 5 Step 4
Observe the cell Place a cover slip
Drop a little bit
using the eye over the skin then
amount of
piece (start from place the glass slide
methylene blue
LPM to HPM) on the stage
Procedure for Experiment No. 2
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3
Using a piece of Drop a little amount
cotton bud, rubDiscussion
the Stain the glass
IV. Result and of methylene blue
tip against the side slide by rubbing it
and wait for 3
of your cheek with the cotton bud
minutes
Onion Cell Observation: The microscopic examination of the slide of the onion prepared
showed the structures of plant cells. We
Step 6 have tried to Step 5 confirm the Step 4 existence of
the nucleus and the other internal structures,
Observe the
but their visualization proved to be difficult. Simply, the cells were typical plant cells
Place the glass After 3 minutes
specimen under the
having walls of cells clearly visible. Human
slide on Cheek Epithelial Cell Observation:
the stage revealed
place the cover slip
microscope (start
thefrom
characteristic at the glass
of animal cells. DiscussionOur observations confirmed the presence slide
LPM to HPM)
of plant cells in the onion sample and animal cells in the human cheek epithelial sample.
Animals' cheek epithelial sample, however, the use of microscopes to identify particular
internal structures was very challenging. The microscope focusing knobs (e.g., coarse
and fine focusing) had to be turned extremely accurately and slowly to see the details of
the image clearly. When they were quickly turned, the image became unclear, and it
was difficult to find and confirm structures such as the nucleus in the plant cells. The
methylene blue stain was essential in the process of increasing the amount of visible
cellular components because without it, they would be nearly unattainable to see. The
stain's contrast was very important for the distinction between cellular structures and the
background. In the future, more advanced methods for observing internal cell
structures, such as the use
Usingof ahigher
piece magnification
of lenses or different staining
cotton bud, rub the
techniques, could be employed
tip against the side
of your cheek
V. Conclusion
This lab activity gave direct observation under a microscope of animal and plant cells.
Although we found animal cells in the human cheek epithelial sample and plant cells in
the onion sample, the problems encountered in seeing particular interior structures
emphasized the need for accurate microscopic methods. Improving the clarity and detail
of the images taken calls for further refinement of focusing methods and perhaps the
application of larger magnification lenses in later observations, although methylene blue
staining was shown to be very important in improving visibility. The exercise highlighted
the basic distinctions between plant and animal cell construction and the need of patient
observation and exact microscope manipulation for accurate microscopic investigation.
VI. Reference
Lakna, P. (2017). Difference Between Plant and Animal Cells: The Biology Blog.
ResearchGate
Differences Between Plant and Animal Cell (2015)
[Link]