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Purpose:
To observe the structures of animal cells.
Background:
• Animal cells have two structures not shared with plant cells: the centriole and lysosomes.
• The average volume of a cheek cell is about 28,000 cubic microns. Students will see "granulations" in the cytoplasm as the
magnification is increased. This effect is produced by many different kinds of vacuoles.
Procedure:
1. Have students work in pairs or teams to complete the activity.
Safety Note: This activity involves the collection, handling, and disposal of the human cheek cells; your students need to be
careful and follow all safety rules.
2. Lead a discussion on the structure of a human cheek cell, and of animal cells in general, and on the functions of the various
structures. Compare and contrast animal and plant cell structures and functions.
Extension:
• Have your students expose the human cheek cells to a saline environment to explore the process of osmosis and the function
of the cell membrane.
• Have your students hypothesize about correlations between cell size and the size and other characteristics of the person from
which the cells came. For example, are the cells of a larger person larger? Are the cells of males and females the same size?
Assessment:
Have your students develop a table with all the structures of a cell listed and check marks indicating which are found in plant cells,
which in animal cells, and which in both.
Animals—Human Cheek Cells (continued)
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