Differences in Plant cell observations?

Question

If you are looking at sections of the same plant cells, how can you see a large vacuole in one and almost none in the other. Or an extensive endoplasmic reticulum in one and not in the other? How can you explain this if its the same cells?

Answer 1

Because you are looking at sections. So they are slices of the cell. Think of an orange. If you slice the very top part of it, you don't see the seeds. But in slices through the middle you do because you are looking at the section of the orange where they are located. The vacuole or ER are not present in every layer of the cell. Also the direction that you slice can be a factor.

Answer 2

I believe every cell is different from another by a way or another. I would say that you are asking for the same species. If you are looking at the same species, you should be able to see the same number and type of organelle that they have.

Since plant cells are usually cubiod shape, there is a likelihood that you see another part of the cell and/or misunderstood certain part due to the change in the angle that you are looking at. Try twisting it around and look at it carefully. If the cells are really like what you mentioned after twisting around; 1 with vacuole while another don't, then they are different cells.