Experiment 2: Observing Mitosis and Meiosis on cell specimens
(Formal report)
Name: Wong Chung An
Class: DMLS/FT/1B/02
Admin number: P1138687
Summary
This experiment aims to observe mitosis and meiosis on cell specimens. It involves the modelling of the stages of meiosis and also the staining procedures to identify mitosis in onion root tip. There are two parts to the procedure of the experiment whereby the first is staining and observing mitosis in onion root tips and the second being observing and comparing mitosis between whitefish blastula and onion root tip. The results are that the five stages of mitosis have been observed and sketched, together with a comparison of telophase in plant and animal cells. The difference between the two types of cell division mitosis and meiosis has also been recorded. The conclusion is that all the objectives of the experiment have been met and it is recommended that the mitotic spindle be stained for a more complete picture of the various stages of mitosis.
1) Introduction
It is important that the experiment is carried out so as to differentiate between the two types of nuclear division, mitosis and meiosis. Mitosis is a process mainly for the growth and replacement of somatic cells and it involves the replication of chromosomes which results in having two daughter cells each same as the parent nucleus. On the contrary, meiosis is for the production of gametes which is essential for an organism’s reproduction and it comprises of two successive nuclear divisions which results in the production of four haploid cells.
Mitosis: A process which replicates chromosomes exactly so that each of the daughter cells contains identical information. The process of mitosis involves five stages. The five stages are: Interphase, Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase and Telophase respectively.
Meiosis: A process whereby two successive nuclear divisions will produce four haploid cells. There are two rounds of cell