Cell Division Analysis: Root Tip Squash Experiment Report

This report details a root tip squash experiment conducted to study cell division, specifically mitosis, in garlic root tips. The experiment aimed to observe chromosomes and cellular structures within the root tip, a region of active cell division. The methodology involved pretreating garlic root tips, preparing samples with hydrochloric acid and toluidine blue stain, and observing the specimens under a microscope. The report discusses the purpose of each reagent, the importance of proper sample preparation, and the challenges encountered during the experiment. Despite some technical difficulties, the experiment sought to demonstrate the process of mitosis, the mitotic phase of the cell cycle, and the calculation of the mitotic index. The report concludes with a discussion of the experiment's limitations and its relevance to understanding cell division in plant meristems.

Root tip Squash Experiment Report 1
ROOT TIP SQUASH EXPERIMENT REPORT
Course Name
Professor
Name of the School
City
Date

Root tip Squash Experiment Report 2
Root tip squash experiment report
Introduction
The Experiment involves the crushing of a root tip and exposing it to conditions that will allow
the studying of its chromosomes and inner structures. In order to understand the internal cell
division processes in a cell, it is important to understand the cell structures first. Thus, the
objective of this experiment is to clearly understand the cell chromosomes found in a root tip.
The root tip is used in the experiment since it is the region with the most active cell division. By
observing the different regions of the root tip and its mitotic duration stages, one can determine
the various mitotic division indexes on the various parts of the experiment (Smith, 2013, p.67).
Garlic root tip Mitosis can be defined as the process by which the cells of a body divides itself.
In the process, the eukaryotic cells detach the plant chromosomes in the cell nucleus to form two
identical nuclei sets. The process is then followed by a process known as cytokinesis which
separates the cytoplasm, nuclei, cell membranes, organelles into other cells sharing an equal
number of cellular components. The two processes together define the cell cycle mitotic phase.
The experiment helps one to observe the cells dividing from the garlic root tip (Clark, 2013,
p.115).
Equipment
Garlic roots, 1M HYDROCHLORIC ACID, Toluidine blue stain, Cold distilled water, sample
tubes, hollow glass block, pipettes, Microscope slides and coverslips, a pair of forceps, filter
paper, Microscope.
Method
Pretreatment

Root tip Squash Experiment Report 3
The untreated garlic root tips were first preserved.
Preparation
One of the glass tubes was filled with about 3 ml of HCl and the other one filled with distilled
water. The 2 root tips were then transferred to the HCl for 4 minutes. One of the root tips was to
be used as a spare in case the slides were not well cleaned. The root tip was then put into the
distilled water for 4 minutes. One of the root tips was then placed on the slid and a very thin tip-
off was cut. A drop of toluidine solution was then pipetted on the tip and left for two minutes.
The excess toluidine was washed off using the distilled water. The specimen tip was then
covered using the coverslips and warmed for two minutes on a hollow glass block. Finally, the
specimen was put on the microscope slide and pressed on a filter paper for viewing.
Result
Fig 1, the required results Figure 2, wrong results
Discussion
The hydrochloric acid was used to break down pectin found in the central lamella which puts the
cells into one place. The stain in the experiment was used to create visibility of the chromosomes
under experiment by stain the meristem cells DNA. The sample was pressed down between the
coverslips to form a thin cell layer without overlying the present cells. Heating of the specimen

Root tip Squash Experiment Report 4
was done to intensify the stain and make the viewing of the chromosomes more effective it more
effective.
The experiment expectations were however not realized due to some technical areas. The garlic
was not well smashed and thus the chromosomes would not easily be observed. The microscope
was not passing the light hence interfering with the chromosomes visibility.
Conclusion
The process of cell division by mitosis is usually constrained to meristems located in the shoot
tips and the growing root between the phloem and the xylem. The cells found in the meristem are
undifferentiated. The root tip squash experiment shows the cells dividing and through it, one can
easily calculate the mitotic index.

Root tip Squash Experiment Report 5
References
Clark, M.S. ed., 2013. Plant molecular biology—a laboratory manual. Springer Science &
Business Media.
Smith, R.H., 2013. Plant tissue culture: techniques and experiments. Academic Press.