Mitosis The stage reaches its final state when a cluster of fibres

organizes to form the spindle fibres.

Materials
Required for
Procedure Of The Experiment
1. Place an onion on a tile.

In Onion Root 2. Metaphase

Chromosomes turn thick in this phase. The two
Experiment 2. With the help of a sharp blade, carefully snip the dry roots
of the onion

Tip Cells
chromatids from each of the chromosomes 3. Place the bulbs in a beaker containing water to grow the
appear distinct. root tips
Each of the chromosomes is fastened to the 4. It may take around 4 to 6 days for the new roots to grow
spindle fibre. and appear 60
Chromosomes align at the centreline of the cell. 5. Trim around 3 cm of the newly%grown roots and place
Abstract
them in a watch glass 40
3. Anaphase 6. With the help of forceps, shift it to a vial
% holding freshly
For entities to mature, grow, maintain tissues, repair Each of the chromatid pair detaches from the 35 acetic acid
prepared aceto-alcohol i.e., a mixture of glacial
and synthesize new cells, cell division is required. cell centromere and approaches the other end of the and ethanol in the ratio 1:3 %
division is of two types cell through the spindle fibre. 7. Allow the root tips to remain in the vial for one complete
Compound microscope
Mitosis At this stage, compressing of the cell membrane day
Acetocarmine stain 8. With the help of forceps, pick one root and set in on a new
Meiosis at the centre takes place.
Water
4. Telophase glass slide
In mitosis, the nucleus of the eukaryotic cells divides Burner
9. With the help of a dropper, allow one drop of N/10 HCI to
into two, subsequently resulting in the splitting of the Chromatids have reached the other end of the N/10 Hydrochloric acid
come in contact with the tip of the root. Additionally, add
parent cells into two daughter cells. Hence every cells cell. Filter paper
around 2 to 3 drops of the acetocarmine stain
division involves two chief stages: The disappearance of the spindles. Coverslip
10. Heat it lightly on the burner in such a way that the stain
Cytokinesis - Cytoplasm division Chromatin fibres are formed as a result of Aceto alcohol (Glacial
does not dry up
uncoiling of daughter chromosomes. acetic acid and Ethanol
Karyokinesis - Nucleus division 11. Excessive stain can be carefully treated using filter paper
The appearance of two daughter nuclei at the in the ratio 1:3)
12. The more stained part of the root tip can be trimmed with
opposing ends due to the reformation of the Glass Slide the help of a blade.
Stages of Mitosis nucleolus and nuclear membrane. Onion root peel
13. Discard the lesser stained part while retaining the more
At this phase, splitting of the cell or cytokinesis Forceps
stained section
may also occur. Blade
14. Add a droplet of water to it
Watch glass
Post mitosis, the next stage is referred to as 15. With the help of a needle, a coverslip can be mounted on
Dropper
interphase, which is part of the cell cycle that it
Needle
is non-dividing and between two consecutive cell 16. Gently tap the coverslip with an unsharpened end of a
Vial
divisions. A cell spends most of its life in needle in order for the meristematic tissue of the root tip
the interphase. It comprises the G1, Sand G2 stages. present under the coverslip to be squashed properly and
to be straightened out as a fine cell layer
Why is onion root tip used to 17. The onion root tip cells' slide is now prepared and ready to
be examined for different stages of mitosis
demonstrate mitosis in this 18. Observe and study mitosis by placing the slide under the
experiment? compound microscope. Focus as desired to obtain a
It is because of the meristematic cells that are distinct and c lear image
situated in the tip of the roots that render the
1. Prophase
most desirable and suitable raw material to study Observations and Conclusion
The process of mitosis is initiated at this stage the different stages of mitosis. Onion is a
wherein coiling and thickening of the monocot plant. Monocotyledonous plants The slide containing the stained root tip cells is placed on
chromosomes occurs. possess large chromosomes that are clearly the stage of the compound microscope, changes taking
Shrinking and hence the disappearance of the visible. Hence, their root tips are used. The period place are noted and sketched.
nucleolus and nuclear membrane takes place. of time taken for mitosis varies as it is dependent The different phases of mitosis, such as prophase,
on the cell type and type of species. metaphase, anaphase and telophase can be observed.