CELLS ARE COMPLEX & DYNAMIC
The cell's interior is structured in a way that streamlines cell function.
Cell organelle structure and function in action.
INSIDE A CELL: WORKSHEET
An optional fill-in-the-blank table to use in conjunction with
the Inside A Cell
interactive activity on Learn.Genetics.
Students navigate the inside of a cell to see the organelles in action and learn their function.
An answer key is provided.
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Learning Objectives
Cells have internal parts, each with a specific function.
The interior of a cell is a dynamic and busy environment.
Time Required
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Class Time: 30 minutes
U.S. National Science Education Standards
Grades 9-12:
Content Standard C: Life Science - The Cell; Cells have particular structures that underlie
their functions. Every cell is surrounded by a membrane that separates it from the outside
world. Inside the cell is a concentrated mixture of thousands of different molecules which
form a variety of specialized structures that carry out such cell functions as energy production,
transport of molecules, waste disposal, synthesis of new molecules, and the storage of genetic material
Cells store and use information to guide their functions. The genetic information stored
in DNA is used to direct the synthesis of the thousands of proteins that each cell requires.
AAAS Benchmarks for Science Literacy
Grades 6-8:
The Living Environment: Cells
Within cells, many of the basic functions of organisms—such as extracting energy from food
and getting rid of waste—are carried out. The way in which cells function is similar in all
living organisms.
The Living Environment: Flow of Matter and Energy
Plants use the energy from light to make sugars from carbon dioxide and water.
Grades 9-12:
The Living Environment: Cells
Every cell is covered by a membrane that controls what can enter and leave the cell.
In all but quite primitive cells, a complex network of proteins provides organization and
shape and, for animal cells, movement.
Within the cells are specialized parts for the transport of materials, energy capture and
release, protein building, waste disposal, passing information, and even movement.
Learn.Genetics Related Content
DIRECTING TRAFFIC: HOW VESICLES TRANSPORT CARGO
INSIDE A CELL
BUILD-A-MEMBRANE
Cut, fold, and paste biomolecules to create a three-dimensional cell membrane with embedded proteins.
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classroom connection
BUILD-A-MEMBRANE IN ACTION
Image 2
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Learning Objectives
Membranes have proteins embedded in them.
Membrane-embedded proteins allow cellular signals and other molecules to pass through the membrane.
Time Required
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Class Time: 30 minutes
U.S. National Science Education Standards
Grades 9-12:
Content Standard C: Life Science - The Cell; Cells have particular structures that underlie
their functions. Every cell is surrounded by a membrane that separates it from the outside
world.
AAAS Benchmarks for Science Literacy
Grades 9-12:
The Living Environment: Cells
Every cell is covered by a membrane that controls what can enter and leave the cell.
Learn.Genetics Related Content
MEMBRANES ORGANIZE CELLULAR COMPLEXITY
CELLS IN PERSPECTIVE
In 1665, Robert Hooke coined the term cell to describe the structures he could see in
cork with some of the first microscopes. Since then, technology has given us an increasingly
complex view of the basic unit of life.
Convey the idea of scale and the relative size of biological structures including the cell.
Visit Learn.Genetics for the interactive
Cell Size and Scale activity and Real
Cell Videos.
COFFEE TO CARBON
Students use copy-and-cut cards to place biological structures in order by their relative size from largest to smallest. Great for use as a formative assessment or anticipatory set.
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Learning Objectives
Understand the relative size of microscopic biological structures.
Time Required
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Class Time: 20 minutes
U.S. National Science Education Standards
Grades K-12:
Unifying Concepts and Processes: Systems, order and organization
Learn.Genetics Related Content
THE EVOLUTION OF THE CELL
CELL SIZE AND SCALE
REAL CELL VIDEOS
SCIENTIST TALK VIDEOS
View video segments of talks given at the Amazing Cells Master Teacher Workshop. Videos are in Quicktime Format.
FUNDING
Funding for this project was provided by a Science Education Partnership Award from the National
Center for Research Resources, a component of the National Institutes of Health.
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CELLS COMMUNICATE
Cells communicate through signals, aided by pathways made mostly of proteins. A cell’s response
depends on the signal itself, as well as the cell type. A look at cell signaling pathways from
different facets including specific signals and responses and a systemic view of signaling pathways in action.
AN EXAMPLE OF CELL COMMUNICATION
The Fight or Flight Response
3-D movie is a close look at some of the cell signaling and responses that take place throughout the body during the fight or flight response. The dynamic ways in which cells communicate with each other through molecular signals is depicted without focusing on anatomy, vocabulary or chemistry.
Two companion pieces describe events taking place in the movie, each with a different degree of detail.
The Cells Communicate Movie Play-by-Play (Preview and Download this printable below) is
a detailed scene-by-scene explanation of the molecular interactions
taking place in the movie. Use this as background information, as a
reference, or as a guide during the movie for higher-level students.
How Cells Communicate During the Fight or Flight Response
is a closer look at what happens during the fight or flight response
using the organs, cells, and chemical messengers depicted in the
movie. Great for students who would like a deeper understanding of
cell communication during the stress response, but do not need to know
it at a molecular level.
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Learning Objectives
Cell communication is a multi-step process.
Cells communicate via signaling pathways made of interacting components.
Components of cell signaling pathways sometimes change shape as a result of their interaction (conformational change).
Time Required
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Class Time: 30 minutes
U.S. National Science Education Standards
Grades 9-12:
Content Standard C: Life Science - The Cell;
Cells have particular structures that underlie their functions. Every cell is surrounded by a membrane that separates it from the outside world. Inside the cell is a concentrated mixture of thousands of different molecules which form a variety of specialized structures that carry out such cell functions as energy production, transport of molecules, waste disposal, synthesis of new molecules, and the storage of genetic material.
AAAS Benchmarks for Science Literacy
Grades 9-12:
The Living Environment: Cells
Within every cell are specialized parts for the transport of materials, energy transfer, protein building, waste disposal, information feedback, and even movement. In addition, most cells in multicellular organisms perform some special functions that others do not.
Learn.Genetics Related Content
THE INSIDE STORY OF CELL COMMUNICATION
THE FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE
HOW CELLS COMMUNICATE DURING THE FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE
PATHWAYS WITH FRIENDS
Directed by instructional cards, students kinesthetically model cell communication by acting as components in a cell signaling pathway.
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Learning Objectives
Cell communication is a multi-step process.
Cells communicate via signaling pathways made of interacting components.
Components of cell signaling pathways sometimes change shape as a result of their interaction (conformational change).
Time Required
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Class Time: 30 minutes
U.S. National Science Education Standards
Grades 9-12:
Content Standard C: Life Science - The Cell;
Cells have particular structures that underlie their functions. Every cell is surrounded by a membrane that separates it from the outside world. Inside the cell is a concentrated mixture of thousands of different molecules which form a variety of specialized structures that carry out such cell functions as energy production, transport of molecules, waste disposal, synthesis of new molecules, and the storage of genetic material.
AAAS Benchmarks for Science Literacy
Grades 9-12:
The Living Environment: Cells
Within every cell are specialized parts for the transport of materials, energy transfer, protein building, waste disposal, information feedback, and even movement. In addition, most cells in multicellular organisms perform some special functions that others do not.
Learn.Genetics Related Content
THE INSIDE STORY OF CELL COMMUNICATION
DROPPING SIGNALS: WORKSHEET
An optional fill-in-the-blank table to use in conjunction with the interactive Dropping Signals activity. Students drag several types of signals to various cell types and record the cell’s response. An answer key is provided.
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Learning Objectives
There are different types of cells, and different types of signals.
Cells respond differently to signals depending on cell and signal type.
Time Required
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Class Time: 40 minutes
U.S. National Science Education Standards
Grades 9-12:
Content Standard C: Life Science - The Cell;
Most cell functions involve chemical reactions.
Cell functions are regulated. Regulation occurs both through changes in the activity of the functions of performed by proteins and through the selective expression of individual genes
AAAS Benchmarks for Science Literacy
Grades 9-12:
The Living Environment: Cells
Complex interactions among the different kinds of molecules in the cell cause distinct cycles of activities, such as growth and division. Cell behavior can also be affected by molecules from other parts of the organism or even other organisms.
Learn.Genetics Related Content
THE INSIDE STORY OF CELL COMMUNICATION
DROPPING SIGNALS
WHEN CELLS DON’T COMMUNICATE
Students research and prepare a report on diseases that are the result of problems in cell communication.
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Learning Objectives
Problems with cell communication can result in disease.
Problems in cell communication occur at the molecular level.
Time Required
Prep Time: varies
Class Time: varies
U.S. National Science Education Standards
Grades 9-12:
Content Standard C: Life Science - The Cell;
Cells have particular structures that underlie their functions. Every cell is surrounded by a membrane that separates it from the outside world. Inside the cell is a concentrated mixture of thousands of different molecules which form a variety of specialized structures that carry out such cell functions as energy production, transport of molecules, waste disposal, synthesis of new molecules, and the storage of genetic material.
AAAS Benchmarks for Science Literacy
Grades 9-12:
The Living Environment: Cells
The work of the cell is carried out by the many different types of molecules it assembles, mostly proteins. Protein molecules are long, usually folded chains made from 20 different kinds of amino-acid molecules. The function of each protein molecule depends on its specific sequence of amino acids and the shape the chain takes is a consequence of attractions between the chain’s parts.
Complex interactions among the different kinds of molecules in the cell cause distinct cycles of activities, such as growth and division. Cell behavior can also be affected by molecules from other parts of the organism or even other organisms.
The Human Organism
Basic Functions
Communication between cells is required to coordinate their diverse activities. Some cells secrete substances that spread only to nearby cells. Others secrete hormones, molecules that are carried in the bloodstream to widely distributed cells that have special receptor sites to which they attach.
Learn.Genetics Related Content
WHEN CELL COMMUNICATION GOES WRONG
DEALING SIGNALS
Use standard playing cards with your students to introduce cellular interactions such as cell to cell recognition and signal and receptor specificity.
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Learning Objectives
Trans-membrane proteins help cells recognize other cells of the same type.
Some foreign invaders such as viruses and bacteria mimic cell to cell recognition mechanisms. This allows them access to healthy cells.
Molecular receptors in the cell membrane interact with specific signals.
Time Required
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Class Time: 30 minutes
U.S. National Science Education Standards
Grades 5-8:
Content Standard C: Life Science - Structure and Function in Living Systems;
Specialized cells perform specialized functions in multicellular organisms. Groups of specialized cells cooperate to form a tissue, such as a muscle.
AAAS Benchmarks for Science Literacy
Grades 9-12:
The Living Environment: Cells
Every cell is covered by a membrane that controls what can enter and leave the cell.
Within every cell are specialized parts for the transport of materials, energy transfer, protein building, waste disposal, information feedback, and even movement. In addition, most cells in multicellular organisms perform some special functions that others do not.
Learn.Genetics Related Content
THE INSIDE STORY OF CELL COMMUNICATION
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