Starter quiz
- What word describes making objects appear larger using a lens?
- focus
- magnification ✓
- resolution
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- What are the smallest living units of life?
- tissues
- organs
- virus
- cells ✓
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What is this piece of scientific equipment called?- 'microscope' ✓
- What is mitosis?
- A type of cell division that creates four different cells.
- The process by which the sex cells are formed.
- A type of cell division that creates two genetically identical cells. ✓
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- Match each stage of the cell cycle to the description of what happens?
- stage 1⇔DNA and sub-cellular structures are copied. ✓
- stage 2⇔Chromosomes line up in the middle, are pulled apart. Nucleus divides. ✓
- stage 3⇔Division of cytoplasm and cell membrane. ✓
- Which of the following is not true for mitosis?
- Daughter cells have half the amount of DNA. ✓
- Two genetically identical cells are produced.
- Multicellular organisms use mitosis for growth and repair.
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Exit quiz
Which part of the microscope is the line pointing towards?- eyepiece lens
- coarse focus wheel
- objective lens ✓
- stage
-
- In which two places does mitosis take place in an onion?
- tips of shoots ✓
- outer layer of skin
- tips of roots ✓
- inner layer of skin
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- Put these stages in order to show how a microscope should be used?
- 1⇔Turn the objective lens to the lowest power.
- 2⇔Clip the specimen onto the stage and turn on the light.
- 3⇔Use the coarse focus wheel to roughly focus the image.
- 4⇔Use the fine focus wheel to get a sharp focus.
- 5⇔Turn the objective lens to a higher power to increase the magnification.
The image has circled a stage of the cell cycle, what is happening?- Cell growth; DNA and sub-cellular structures are being copied.
- Chromosomes are lining up along the middle of the cell. ✓
- Cytoplasm and cell membrane are dividing.
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The image has circled a stage of the cell cycle, what is happening?- The cytoplasm and cell membrane are dividing.
- Cell growth; DNA and sub-cellular structures are being copied. ✓
- The chromosomes are being pulled to either end of the cell.
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Which statements describe what has happened to the circled cell?- The DNA is decondensed and held within a nucleus.
- The DNA has condensed to form visible chromosomes. ✓
- The nuclear membrane is formed around the DNA.
- The nuclear membrane has broken down. ✓
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Worksheet
Presentation
Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- A light microscope can be used to observe plant cells in different stages of mitosis (e.g. from onion root tip).
- The parts of a light microscope and their functions.
- The sequence of steps for setting up a light microscope to observe cells, including changing the magnification & focus.
- Explaining observations from microscopy using ideas about what happens during stages of the cell cycle.
Common misconception
Recognising that after cell growth DNA condenses to form visible chromosomes and the nuclear membrane breaks down.
There are slides that aim to show the difference between DNA held within the nucleus and visible chromosomes where DNA has condensed. There is also a check for understanding question and practice task question to reinforce this concept.
Keywords
Light microscope - A type of microscope that uses visible light and a system of lenses to generate magnified images of small objects.
Mitosis - A type of cell division that produces genetically identical cells.
Lens - A piece of glass or other transparent material with curved sides, used in a microscope to magnify objects.
Magnification - Making small objects appear larger in order to see more detail.
Focus - A point where light rays converge to form an image with clarity.