Cheek Cells Under The Microscope

Human cheek cells are made of simple squamous epithelial cells, which are flat cells with a round visible nucleus that cover the inside lining of the cheek. Cheek cells are easy to obtain and easy to see under a microscope. As such it is a favorite in biology classrooms to show what a typical animal cell looks like. DNA and paternity tests can be done by obtaining these cells and looking at their DNA. The magnification for each shot is shown in the bottom right hand corner.