Objective
Examine the stages of mitosis using a microscope to view cells in an onion root tip.
Materials
- Onion
- Knife
- Microscope slides
- Stains (e.g., acetocarmine)
- Microscope
- Notebook for observations
Instructions
- Cut a small piece from the tip of an onion root.
- Place the root tip on a microscope slide.
- Apply a few drops of stain to the root tip.
- Cover with a cover slip and gently press it down.
- Observe the root tip under a microscope at high magnification.
- Identify and record the different stages of mitosis (prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase) in the notebook.
- Sketch each stage as observed under the microscope.
- Analyze the frequency of cells in each stage to understand the process of cell division.