Cells Alive - Lab Assignments

Cells Alive Basic Assignment 10/4/19 CELLS ALIVE : an internet lesson......... Objectives: Understand the relative sizes of objects, including the cell, sketch and identify the function of cell structures; compare eukaryote to prokaryote cells; compare plant and animals cells Part A. "HOW BIG IS A...." (click on the interactive link "howbig" to access this page) Instructions: Look at the objects that can be found on the head of a pink. Zoom in and out to determine which object is the smallest, then slowly zoom out so you can see how other objects compare. 1. If you zoom all the way in, what is the smallest object on the head of the pin? The smallest object on the head of the pin is the Rhinovirus. Zoom out a little farther, what is the hook shaped object you see? The hooked shaped object is the Ebola virus bacteria. 2. Compare each of the following objects on the pin, circle the one that is larger. a) baker's yeast or e. coli b) lymphocyte or ragweed c) red blood cell or staphylococcus d) ragweed or dust mite 3. In the photo below, there is a line that says 200 nanometers. This is used to help you determine how big an object is. It works similar to the way a map works. The line represents 200 nanometers, but the object itself is bigger. Use the line to estimate how many lines (200 each) would fit across the object. How big is it? 1800 nanometers Part B: Go to Cell Models and locate the image of a bacterial cell . Label the image below. Cells Alive Basic Assignment 10/4/19 Part C: Go to the Animal Cell Model and click through each of the parts and read their descriptions. Use the information to answer the questions and make sketches of the cell organelles. Sketches 11. Rough ER 12. Mitochondrion 13. Centrosome Cells Alive Basic Assignment 10/4/19 14. Microtubules 1. What do the mitochondrion do? The mitochondrion provides the energy the cell needs to move, divide, produce secretory products and contract. The power the cell’s center. 2. How big are the mitochondrion? The mitochondrion is about the size of bacteria but may be differently shaped depending on cell type. 3. What is the function of the Golgi apparatus? The Golgi apparatus serves to package macromolecules for transport elsewhere in the cell. 4. What structure is found on the rough ER that is not found on the smooth ER? The surface of rough ER has numerous ribosomes, giving it its pebbled appearance, which is what the smooth ER lacks. 5. Where is the nucleolus found? The nucleolus is found within the nucleus. 6. What is the function of the nucleolus? The nucleolus serves to produce ribosomes. Cells Alive Basic Assignment 10/4/19 7. What is the function of the cytoskeleton? The cytoskeleton helps maintain the cell’s shape, though its primary importance lies in cell motility. Without the organized network that is the cytoskeleton, the internal movement of cell organelles as well as cell locomotion and muscle fiber contraction would not be possible. 8. What within the nucleus is responsible for providing the cell with its unique characteristics? The DNA within the nucleus is responsible for providing cells with their unique characteristics. While DNA is similar in every cell of the body, specific cells may have certain genes turned on or off if they do not serve the cell’s function. Go to the Plant Cell Model 9. What structure takes up the majority of the center space within the plant cell? What is its primary function? The vacuole takes up the majority of the center space within plant cell. The vacuole has many functions, especially in plant cells. It stores nutrients and waste products, helps increase cell size during growth and often serves the role of a lysosomes, which plant cells lack. Additionally, vacuoles regulate turgor pressure in the cell, collecting water to produce rigidity in the plant, preventing wilting. 10. What part of the plant cell give it is green color? How many of these structures are visible on the plant diagram? The chloroplast gives the plant cell its typical green color because they contain the plant cell’s chlorophyll. In the given diagram there are 4 chloroplast structures provided. Cells Alive Basic Assignment 10/4/19 Part D: Comparing Cells Use what you know about each type of cell (reference pictures if needed), and place a check in the box if the cell has that characteristic or structure.