UNESCO-NIGERIA TECHNICAL & VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
REVITALISATION PROJECT-PHASE II
NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN
SCIENCE LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY
MORPHOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY
OF LIVING THINGS
COURSE CODE: STB 112
Version 1.0 December, 2008
YEAR I- SE MESTER I
PRACTICAL
1
TABLE OF CONTENT
PRACTICAL
WEEK 1:
IDENTIFICATION OF PROTOZOANS FROM POND WATER.
WEEK 2:
STUDY OF NON-FLOWERING PLANTS USING MOSSES AS AN
EXAMPLE.
WEEK 3:
STUDY OF NON FLOWERING PLANTS USING FERN AS AN
EXAMPLE.
WEEK 4:
STUDY OF THE INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF A
DICOTYLEDONOUS ROOT AND STEM.
WEEK 5:
STUDY OF THE INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF A
MONOCOTYLEDONOUS ROOT AND STEM.
WEEK 6:
STUDY OF THE EXTERNAL STRUCTURE OF INVERTEBRATES.
WEEK 7:
STUDY OF THE EXTERNAL FEATURES OF SOME ARTHROPODS
WEEK 8:
STUDY OF THE MORPHOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF MEMBERS
OF THE CLASS PIECES.
WEEK 9:
STUDY OF THE EXTERNAL FEATURE OF AMPHIBIANS E.G.
TOAD.
WEEK 10:
STUDY OF THE MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF MAMMALS.
WEEK 11:
STUDY OF DISSECTION TECHNIQUE USING ANY MAMMAL
WEEK 12:
STUDY OF MORPHOLGY, EVOLUTIONARY RELATIONSHIP AND
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE.
WEEK 13:
EXAMINATION OF EXTERNAL STRUCTURE OF ALGAE USING
HAND LENS OR MICROSCOPE.
WEEK 14:
WEEK 15:
EXAMINATION AND IDENTIFY THE EXTERNAL FEATURES OF
FUNGI.
EXAMINATION OF EXTERNAL FEATURES OF VERTEBRATES
Week 1:
Protozoans
Aim:
To identify protozoans from pond water.
Materials:
Pond water, glass slide, dropper, microscope.
Introduction:
Protozoan are one-called organisms living independently or in colonies of similar cells.
Most protozoans are microscopic organisms. Members of the phylum protozoa are all
unicellular animals. Almost all protozoa are aquatic. They can be found where there is
water, in streams, ocean and in moist soil. While others live as parasites on animals or
plants.
Examples of protozoa include Amoeba profesus, Euglena viridis, Paramecium,
Chlamydomonas, Spirogyra, Diatoms etc.
Procedure:
-
Place a drop of pond water provided on a clean glass slide-using a dropper.
-
Observe your preparation under the microscope using low power objective lens
first, then high power objective.
-
Look for at least five protozoans e.g. Spirogyra, Diatom, Euglena etc.
-
Draw well labeled diagrams of the protozoa observed.
Questions:
Mention five characteristic of each of the protozoa.
Classify each protozoa to species level.
Weeks 2
Title:
Non-flowering plants
Aim:
To study non-flowering plants using mosses as an example.
Materials needed:
Mosses, hand lens, glass slide, microscope, wash glass.
Introduction:Mosses are non flowering plants. They belong to the group Bryohyta. They are
commonly seen in forests and wood lands, growing on the trunks of trees. You can also
see them on the walls of old drains, old building and other brick work especially if these
have been damp for a long time. A common species seen in Nigeria is Funaria spp. The
familiar structure usually seen ins the Sporophyte.
Procedure:(i)
Examine the mosses collected using hand lens.
(ii)
Note the short stalk anchored by a number of root-like structures called rhizoids
and surrounded by a tuft of leaf – like structures.
(iii)
From the middle of this tuft, in some of the gametophytes, you may se some
slender structures growing out. These are the sprophytes.
(iv)
Make diagrams of the gametophytes, one bearing a Sporophyte and another not
bearing a Sporophyte.
(v)
Detach one Sporophyte and examine it more closely under low power
magnification.
(vi)
Note the slender stalk called seta. At its tip, it has a pear shaped capsule, with a lid
(operculum).
(vii)
Make a labeled drawing of Sporophyte.
Questions:(1)
Are mosses vascular plants or non vascular plants, give reasons for your answer.
(2)
List three characteristics of Bryophytes.
(3)
Classify the specimen to species level.
Week 3
Title:
Non-flowering plants
Aim:
To study non flowering plants using fern as an example.
Materials needed:
Fern, glass slide, hand lens, microscope, wash glass, razor blade.
Introduction:Ferns are non-flowering vascular plants. They belong to the group Pteridophyta. Like the
moss, t he fern grown very commonly in forest, farmlands, wood lands and sometimes
from the ground unlike the moss however, the most familiar structure, usually seen is the
Sporophyte sometimes called the fern frond. But the roots will have become wellestablished and able to absorb water and food materials from the soil while the leaves and
those aerial portions containing chlorophyll manufacture food by photosynthesis.
Procedure:1.
You are provided with a fern plant.
2.
Using your hand lens, observe the roots, and the frond.
3.
Note the sori found on the under leaf of the frond.
4.
Draw and label the structures observed.
Questions:1.
Classify the specimen provided.
2.
What are the functions of the sori found on the leaves?
3.
What type of spores are produce in the fern plant?
4.
How can you relate the structures to those of Bryophytes in terms of evolutionary
trend?
Week 4
Title:
Flowering plants.
Aim:
To study the internal structure of a dicotyledonous root and stem.
Materials:
-
Water leaf plant, razor blade, wash glass, water, glass slide, microscope, cover
slip, iodine solution.
Procedure:
Make as many as possible cross-section of the water leaf root and stem.
i)
Place the sectioning of the root and stem into different wash glasses containing
water.
ii)
Drop a drop of water on a clean glass slide
iii)
Remove a piece of the section of the root.
iv)
Mount the section on the glass slide.
v)
Add a drop of iodine on the mounted section
vi)
Observe, draw and label under low and high power objectives.
vii)
Repeat the procedure for the stem. Draw and label your observation.
Questions:Compare the transverse section of the stem with that of the root, write out the differences
and similarities between them.
Week 5
Title:
Flowering plants.
Aim:
To study the internal structure of a monocotyledonous root and
stem.
Materials:
Young maize plant, sharp razor, wash glass, water, glass slide,
microscope.
Introduction:
The monocotyledons are plants whose seeds have one cotyledon. The vascular bundles of
the stem are scattered, their floral parts – petals, sepals, stamens and pistils – exist in
groups or multiples of three, their leaves have veins running parallel to one another. Most
monocotyledons have a fibrous root stems.
Procedure:i)
Wash the roots of the young maize plant obtained.
ii)
Make transverse section across the stem and across a root.
iii)
Examine them under the low power of a microscope.
iv)
Make drawings of your sections and label them.
Questions:Compare the internal structure of the monocotyledonous stem and that of its root. State
the structure difference between the stem and roots.
Week 6
Title:
Invertebrates.
Aim:
To study the external structure of invertebrates.
Materials:
Tape worm, round worm, earth worm, land snail, hand lens, wash glass,
forceps.
Introduction:
Invertebrates are animals without backbones. This is a very large group that includes
several animals. They are made up of eight phyla. They are Protozoans, Porifera
Coelenterates,
Platyhelimintnes,
Nematodes,
Annelids,
Mollusca
Arthropoda,
Echinodermata.
Procedure:Identify specimen A-D. Make a well labeled diagram of a specimen and classify
appropriately.
Week 7
Title:
Invertebrates.
Aim:
To study the external features of some Arthropods.
Materials:
Cockroach, spider, prawn and centipede, hand lens, wash glass.
Procedure:-
Identify specimen A to D
-
Make a well labeled diagram of the specimen and classify appropriately.
Questions:4.
Mention three characteristics of phylum Arthropoda.
5.
What are the differences between specimen A & C.
Week 8
Topic:
Vertebrates (Pisces (Fishes)
Introduction:Fishes are aquatic organisms that have very good unique system of living in their habitat.
As such they have striking physiological as well as anatomical features very special to
them that’s aid their harmonious existence.
Aim:
To study the morphological structure of members of the class pieces.
Materials:
A fresh on preserved fish (tilapia) (bony fish)
-
Hand or table lens
-
Petri dishes, hand gloves
-
Scalpels or knife or Razor blade
-
Glass slides and cover slips.
Procedure:-
You are provided with different fish specimen
-
Examine the external features of the specimen.
-
Classify draw and label each specimen
-
Examine the tilapia or cat fish (Claries lazera)
-
Remove a scale from tipalia and prepare a wet mount on a clean glass slide.
-
Observe under a microscope
-
Make enlarged diagrams of each specimen.
Questions:
1.
What difference can you find between a bony fish and a cartilaginous fish?
2.
Classify the fish up to its species level.
3.
Why do fishes have 2 colorations?
4.
State other adaptive features you observed.
Week 9
Amphibians
Title:
Morphology of Amphibians
Aim:
To study the external feature of amphibians e.g. Toad.
Introduction:These are the animals that share same aquatic environment with the fishes but are
different due to various structural modification to suit their mode of living. Such
characters are presence of webbed feet, as well as adaptable respiratory structures
suitable for aquatic and terrestrial life.
Materials:-
A fresh is preserved frog or toad specimen
-
Petri-dish/dissecting tray
-
Hand lens or table lens
-
Hand glove
Procedure:-
You are provided with a fresh specimen of a toad and a frog.
-
Study carefully and make large labeled diagrams.
-
Determine whether your specimen is either male or female by their features.
-
Make a list of the differences between a toad and a frog.
-
State their adaptive features.
Questions:-
Why are frog’s eggs laid in long gelatin fluid?
-
Is a frog vegetarian or both?
-
Classify the frog to specie level.
Week 10
Topic:
Mammals (Rabbit/Rat).
Aim:
To study the morphological features of mammals.
Introduction:
These are animals that have hairs/fur covering their bodies, they are homoithermic and
have unique mammalian characteristics. They give birth to their young ones alive.
Materials:
-
Freshly killed animal/preserved taxidermy of a Rabbit
-
Dissecting needles
-
Sharp scapel knife
-
A pair of forceps
-
Cotton wool and water.
Procedure:-
You are provided with a specimen of a small mammal
-
Examine its external features.
-
Take note of the hair that covers the entire body.
-
In the female notice the nipples and how many they are.
Questions:
1.
What important functions does the hair coat serve to the body of the animal.
2.
Draw and label the specimen fully.
3.
Classify the animal to species level.
4.
State the characteristics and adaptive features of the mammal provided.
Week 11
Title:
Dissection of an animal
Aim:
To study the dissection technique using any mammal
Procedure:-
Put the animal to sleep using chloroform.
-
Lay your specimen on its back in a dissection tray
-
Fasten it with pins on its arms and legs
-
With a pair of forceps in the left hand and scissors on the right, raise up the skin at
the abdomen and make a small cut in the mid ventral line.
-
Insert the blade of the scissors into the cut and through the skin only from the
cloaca to lower jaw.
-
Make cut to the knees and the elbows on each side.
-
Separate the skin from the inner muscular body wall and pin them out on either
sides.
-
Lift the muscular body wall with forcepts and cut the abdominal vein up to
pectoral girdle.
-
Carefully free the cut strip from the underlying tissues with a scapel
-
Pin back the flap of tissues on each sides of the body
-
To expose the gut contents it is necessary to cut through veins and arteries.
-
To dissect the heart, the thin pericardium should be cut of
-
Such off excess blood from the heart region and carefully trace the major blood
vessels entering and leaving the heart.
-
To reveal the reproductive and primogenital system, remove the digestive track
and organs up the large intestine (avoid puncturing the heart and major blood
vessels).
-
Cut through the pelvis carefully to have an access to the cloaca (do not puncture
the bladder)
-
Using a hand lens trace the urinogenital system of your specimen note that in the
male, testes lies on the dorsal side of the kidney and they share the same duct for
passing urine and sperm.
-
In the female the reproductive organs are found along the side of the kidney.
-
Suck excess blood from the heart region and carefully trace the major blood
vessels entering and leaving the heart.
Questions:1.
Make well labeled diagram of:
(i)
Respiratory organs
(ii)
Circulatory organs
(iii)
Reproductive organs
(iv)
Digestive organs
2.
Classify the specimen up to its species level.
Week 12
Topic:
Morpholgy and Evolutionary relationship Economic Importance.
Introduction:Vertebrates are animals that posses many characteristics that indicate their relationship in
evolution between them and other higher or lower members of the animal kingdom, such
important features can easily be seen in one of the groups. The protochordates e.g.
Amphioxus.
Materials:-
Permanent slide
-
Microscope
Procedure:-
Examine the specimen provided
-
Identify the features of its evolution
-
Relate these features to its evolution
-
Draw a good diagram fully labeled.
Questions:
1.
State the features of biological importance
2.
Classify it to specifies level
3.
State their economic importance
4.
Relate its physiological relationship with the invertebrates.
Week 13
Title:
Examination of the external structure of Algae (spirogyra)
Aim:
To examine the external structure of Algae using hand lens or microscope.
Materials:
Pond water, glass slide, glass cover, pipette, hand lens or microscope.
Introduction:A few algae are single-called. Most others are many called with different body forms.
Algae have thick cell walls. They also have large vacuoles and most of them have
organized nucleus, each of which has a delaminating nuclear envelop. Most algae possess
chlorophyll. In addition to this they possess other coloured pigments which may mask the
green color of their chlorophyll. Algae lack true roots, stems, and leaves characteristics of
the higher plants. They also lack vascular tissues like xylem and phoem of higher plants.
The algae are restricted to aquatic or moist habitats.
Procedure:1.
Using the dropper take a small sample of the pond water provided.
2.
Drop 2-3 drops of the pond water on a clean glass slide.
3.
Cover the slide with a cover slip gently. Avoid trapping of air bubbles.
4.
Mount the prepared slide onto a microscope and examine using lower objectives
x100 and x40.
5.
Draw and label at least three algae you have identified in the pond water.
Questions:1.
What type of algae did you observed?
2.
Give 5 characteristics of algae.
3.
Is algae plant or animal. Give reasons to your answers.
4.
Classify the algae observed from kingdom to species level.
5.
What type of nutrition do you find in green algae.?
Week 14
Title:
Examination of External Feature of Fungi
Aim:
To examine and Identify the external features of fungi.
Materials:
Mucor mycelia on damp bread, lactophynol cotton blue, Office pins or
needle, microscope, cover slip and hand lens.
Introduction:Fungi belong to a separate kingdom of mostly multicellular eukaryotic organisms that are
saprophytic. That is they feed on deed or decaying organic material. Some fungi are
parasites unlike plants; fungi have chlorophast and do not produce their own food. The
slender filaments of fungi are barely visible to the naked eye and are called hyphae. They
may be divided into cells by cross walls called SEPTA, or may have no septa at all. A
mass of hyphae is called a MYCELIUM. Most fungi reproduce both sexually and
asexually. Fungi are classified into divisions. Three divisions of fungi include Zygote
forming fungi, Ascomycete sac fungi, and the club fungi. Imperfect fungi are another
group of fungi that have sexual stage of reproduction. Fungi are found growing on bread,
orange, food remains etc.
Procedure:1.
Examine the mycelium on the bread using hand lens. Note the horizontal huphae
and the erect which terminate in spherical heads.
2.
Using the office pin or needle take a small portion of the mycelium and smear it
on a glass slide containing drops of water.
3.
Now add a drop of lactophynol cotton blue. Cover with a cover slip and examine
under the low and high power of microscope objectives x10 and x40.
4.
Draw and label your observation
5.
Classify the specimen from kingdom to species level.
Week 15
Vertebrates.
Title:
Examination of External Features of vertebrates.
Aim:
To Examine the External Features of vertebrates.
Materials:
Fish (Tilapia), Toad, Bird, (PIGEON), Lizard and Rat, Hand Lens.
Introduction:The vertebrates are animals which are more highly developed than the invertebrate
animals. The vertebrates have complicated and more efficient systems. They have jointed
skeleton made up of bones and cartilages. They have two pairs of limbs. Their body is
bilaterally symmetrical. The vertebrates include 5 principal groups of animals, namely
Pisces e.g. Fish, Amphibians e.g. Toad, Reptilian e.g. Lizard, Aves e.g. Birds and
mammals e.g. Rabbit.
Procedure:1.
Examine carefully the specimen provided and notice the body shape, the body
covering and body division.
2.
Make a large, fully labeled drawing of the specimen to show the external features.
3.
Classify each specimen from kingdom to species levels.
Questions:Make a list of the adaptive structural features of each specimen and the significance of
each structural feature.
Adaptive features
Significance of the structural feature.