Investigating Mitosis

• What can happen to roots so mitosis can be observed ?

  They can be stained and squashed
• what should you wear when using?

  Gloves
• What are steps 1-3?

  1. Cut 1cm from the tip from a growing root. tip used because that is where growth occurs= mitosis occurs here
  2. Prep a boiling tube containing 1 M HCL and put in water bath at 60 degrees
  3. Transfer root tip into the boiling tube and incubate for about 5 mins
• what are steps 4-6?

  • 4: Using a pipette, rinse root tip well with cold water. Leave tip to dry on a paper towel
  • 5: place root time on a microscope slide and cut 2mm from the very tip of it, getting rid of the rest
  • 6: use a mounted needle to break the tip open and spread the cells out thinly
• What are steps 7-9?

  • 7: add a few drops of the stain and leave for a few minutes
  • 8: Place a cover slip over the cells and push down firmly to squash the tissue= makes tissue thinner and allow light to pass through it. DO NOT SMEAR the cover slip sideways- you will damage the CHROMOSOMES
  • step 9- complete