unit 2,preparing root tip squash Flashcards
why should you use toluidine blue
it binds to the chromatin DNA staining it blue and making it visible, staining the chromosomes making it clearly visible
why are the root tips suspended in distilled water
the water helps elongate the cells as it is absorbed by osmosis causing the cells to swell. this separates the cells making them easier to see
why should you use acid
to help break down the cell walls and make them more permeable to allow the stain to penetrate the cell and reach the chromosomes
why do you gently press on the coverslip
to produce a layer that is one cell thick this ensures light can travel through the slide
why should you not slide the cover slip
to prevent the cells from from rolling on top of each other , to prevent obscuring the view of chromosomes. it also prevents the cells from being damaged not ruptured
what effects different results
different types of plants used, depends on the age or time of day it was cut. also depends on how the plant was grown eg) temperature or nutrients availability
