Microscope Organism Lab

In this lab, we looked at different cells under the microscope and observed their characteristics. We learned how to properly use a microscope in this lab, and we got a hands on view of what real cells look like. 

After observing different cells under the microscope, I was able to find the differences and similarities between different types of cells. For an example, I found that all autotrophic cells (Spirogyra, Cynaobacteria, and Euglena) had a blue-green tint in them. Autotrophs are organisms  that make their own food, or producers. The reason why they all have a green tint on them is from the chlorophyll which is used to soak up light energy in order to make food. 
Heterotrophic cells (Animal Cell and Amoeba)  are cells that get their food and energy by consuming other cells. I classified that the muscle cells were heterotrophic since they had multiple nuclei and I classified amoebas as heterotrophic because they had pseudopods to consume other cells. 
The defining characteristic of a eukaryotic cells is that they contain a nucleus. Using this characteristic I classified the Animal cell, ligustrum, Spirogyra, Euglena, and Amoeba to be eukaryotic. In all of these cells I identified a nucleus which made me absolutely certain that it was a eukaryote cell. 
Prokaryote cells are single celled and without a nucleus. In this lab I found that the bacteria cells (Coccus, Bacillus, and Spirillum), and the cyanobacteria are all prokaryotic. Generally, almost all bacteria are classified as prokaryotic which was one of the reasons it let me to believe these cells were prokaryotes too. The other reason was that there was no identifiable nucleus. 

Spirogyra at 100X                    
Organelles Identified: Cell wall, Chloroplasts, Cytoplasm
Unique: Visible spirals in individual strands
Observation: Green streaks are formed by chloroplasts
Eukaryotic and Autotrophic

Ligusgtrum at 400X
Organelles Identified: Chloroplast, Epidermis cell, vein
Unique: Chlorplasts are extremely visible 
Observation: Visible holes within the individual circles
Eukaryotic and Autotrophic

Animal Cell at 400X
Organelles Identified: Nucleus, Muscle Fiber
Unique: Many nuclei visible as black dots
Observations: Individual striations are visible 
Eukaryotic and Heterotrophic

Cyanobacteria at 400X
Organelles Identified: One single cell
Unique: Individual cells are visible
Observations: Colors are various shades of blue green and purple
Prokaryotic and Autotrophic

Euglena at 400X
Organelles identified: Chloropast, Nucleus
Unique: Oval shaped cell is very clearly visible
Observations: Has a teal-blue pigment
Eukaryotic and Autotrophic

Ameoba at 400X
Organelles identified: Cell Membrane, Pseudopods
Unique: Many food vacuoles can be seen
Observations: Can see the pseudopods where the amoeba captures it's food
Eukaryotic and Heterotrophic

Bacteria Cells: General Shapes
Identified: Bacillus, Spirillum, Coccus
Unique: Bacteria are exteremely tiny compared to the rest of the cells
Observation: Compared to the other bacteria, coccus is the smallest
Prokaryotic and Heterotrophic