Describe the appearance of the dead epithelial cells. How do these differ from the living epithelial cheek cells you examined in the cells and tissues class?

Dead epithelial cells often appear more irregular and less structured than living epithelial cells. They may also lack the typical characteristics of living cells, such as a clearly defined nucleus or cytoplasm.

In the cells and tissues class, you would have observed that living epithelial cheek cells are generally round or oval in shape, with a distinct border. They contain a nucleus, which is usually located in the center of the cell and appears darker under a microscope due to its dense DNA content. The cytoplasm, which surrounds the nucleus, is typically clear and contains various organelles.

In contrast, dead epithelial cells may not have a clearly visible nucleus or it may appear fragmented. The cytoplasm may also appear granular or 'cloudy' due to the breakdown of cellular structures. The overall shape of the cell may be distorted due to the loss of integrity of the cell membrane.

Furthermore, dead cells may also be stained more easily than living cells. This is because the cell membrane loses its selective permeability upon death, allowing dyes to enter the cell more freely.

In summary, dead epithelial cells often appear more irregular, distorted and may stain more easily compared to living epithelial cheek cells.