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Lab
Mitosis
Guided
Cut off the last 2 to 3 mm of one root: the tip, where the cells are dividing
Pick up the root tip with the forceps
Put the tip in the warm hydrochloric acid to soften it
Leave it in the acid for five minutes: the acid loosens the cells from one another
Move the tip into the water to wash the acid off
Lay the tip in the middle of the slide
Put one drop of acetic orcein on the tip. It stains the chromosomes
Break the tip up gently with the mounted needle
Rest one edge of the coverslip in the stain
Hold the needle to lower the coverslip slowly
Fold blotting paper over the coverslip
Press firmly, straight down, with your thumb. Do not let the coverslip slide
Take the blotting paper off and put it aside
The slide is prepared. Continue when you are ready to examine it.
Laboratory
onion roots
warm acid
water
orcein
slide
forceps
coverslip
mounted needle
blotting paper
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