Cell Communication Lab

Pre-Laboratory Questions
1. Yeast cells look like separate little spheres; they cannot walk or swim. Brainstorm methods by which yeast cells might communicate with each other. Record your list of possibilities in the space below.
I. Signal Cascade
II. Hormones
III. Pheromones
IV. Receptors embedded in the cell
V. Growth near another cell

Guided Activity: Table Charts

Alpha – Type Culture
Single
Haploid
Cells
Budding
Haploid
cells
Time 0
Field 1
3
3

Field 2
1
1

Field 3
8
2

Total per stage

Percent total

Time 1
Field 1

Field 2

Field 3

Total per stage

Percent total

Time 2
Field 1

Field 2

Field 3

Total per stage

Percent total

Time 3
Field 1

Field 2

Field 3

Total per stage

Percent total

A-Type Culture
Single
Haploid
Cells
Budding
Haploid
Cells
Time 0
Field 1

Field 2

Field 3

Total per stage

Percent total

Time 1
Field 1

Field 2

Field 3

Total per stage

Percent total

Time 2
Field 1

Field 2

Field 3

Total per stage

Percent total

Time 3
Field 1

Field 2

Field 3

Total per stage

Percent total

Mixed Culture
Single
Haploid
Cells
Budding
Haploid Cells

Shmoos

Single
Zygotes

Budding
Zygotes

Asci
Time 0
Field 1

Field 2

Field 3

Total per stage

Percent of total

Time 1
Field 1

Field 2

Field 3

Total per stage

Percent of total

Time 2
Field 1

Field 2

Field 3

Total per stage

Percent of total

Time 3
Field 1

Field 2

Field 3

Total per stage

Percent of total

Guided Activity: Graph

Guided Activity: Laboratory Questions
1. Did you notice and differences between the a-type and alpha-type strands? 2. Did you notice any differences between the isolated cultures and the mixed cultures? Yes, the isolated cultures made it very easy to identify whether there were single haploid cells or budding haploid