Biologists have developed a number of stains that help them see the cells and their organelles by adding color to their transparent parts. While many biological stains are for advanced study only, there are some that are easy to obtain and use. Food coloring can be found at a grocery store, and iodine can be found at a pharmacy. The last two stains, malachite green and methylene blue, can be purchased at aquarium shops. Interestingly, certain stains color certain parts of a cell.
Scientists choose specific stains when they want to look at a particular part of a cell.
You can experiment with the stains listed above to see which parts of the cell each one colors. Warning Make sure you have an adult to supervise before you use stains. Stains not only add color to cells, but also hands, clothes, and nearly everything else. Use with caution and prepare your work area first with layers of newspaper. Challenge Stain cells and compare to unstained cells.