Day 3: Viewing Cheek Cells
STEP 1: Gently scrape the inside of your cheek with a clean toothpick (just enough to collect a few cells—no pressure needed). Stir the toothpick in a drop of methylene blue on a clean slide. This stain helps make the nucleus and other parts of the cell easier to see. Carefully place a cover slip over the drop. Watch the video below for help, and use the same techniques with your Foldscope kit.
STEP 2: Look closely at your cheek cells through the Foldscope. Try to identify the cell membrane (outer edge), cytoplasm (the inside fluid), and the nucleus (the darker spot in the center that holds the DNA). These are animal cells, so notice how they compare to the onion cells you observed earlier. Do you see any differences in shape, structure, or visible parts? Use the image below as a reference.
STEP 3: Use the QR code below to upload pictures of your cheek cells. Be sure to type your first name in the “Subject” line when you upload. Click here to see all posts.
