Cells


 Cells

 

 

 

 

At a microscopic level, we are all composed of cells. Look at yourself in a mirror -- what you see is about 10 trillion cells divided into about 200 different types. Our muscles are made of muscle cells, our livers of liver cells, and there are even very specialized types of cells that make the enamel for our teeth or the clear lenses in our eyes!  (taken from How stuff works)

 

 

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Watch the video above to see the Inner Life of a Cell 

 

 

http://www.cellsalive.com/

 

cell model animation

 Clck on the blue links above to go to the cell animation pages.

 

 

 Definition

 

 Cell: The basic structural and functional unit in people and all living things. Each cell is a small container of chemicals and water wrapped in a membrane.

 

 

 

Check out the on-line lessons to increase your knowledge!

The Biology Project Home > Cell Biology from http://www.biology.arizona.edu/cell_bio/cell_bio.html

 

Online Onion Root Tips: Phases of the cell cycle
In this digital version of the classic microscope lab, you will classify cells from the tip of an onion root into the appropriate phases of the cell cycle, and then count up the cells found in each phase. You can use those numbers to predict how much time a dividing cell spends in each phase

 

en espaƱol

Cell Membranes Learn that membranes are fluid, with components that move, change, and perform vital physiological roles as they allow cells to communicate with each other and their environment.


Cell Signaling
Learn that living organisms constantly receive and interpret signals from their environment. Cells of multi-cellular organisms also receive signals from other cells, including signals for cell division and differentiation.

Studying Cells Introduce yourself to the cell as the fundamental unit of life and the scientific method.

The Cell Cycle & Mitosis Understand the events that occur in the cell cycle and the process of mitosis that divides the duplicated genetic material creating two identical daughter cells.

Meiosis Understand the events that occur in process of meiosis that takes place to produce our gametes.

Prokaryotes, Eukaryotes, & Viruses Learn about the cells that make up all living systems, their organelles, and the differences between living cells and viruses.

The Cytoskeleton Learn that the cytoskeleton acts both a muscle and a skeleton, and is responsible for cell movement, cytokinesis, and the organization of the organelles within the cell.

 

The Cell Cycle

During development from stem to fully differentiated, cells in the body alternately divide (mitosis) and "appear" to be resting (interphase). This sequence of activities exhibited by cells is called the cell cycle.

Interphase, which appears to the eye to be a resting stage between cell divisions, is actually a period of diverse activities. Those interphase activities are indispensible in making the next mitosis possible.

 

 

 

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Watch the video above that shows real footage of a cell during mitosis, then

check out the two animations below

 

http://www.cellsalive.com/mitosis.htm  mitosis demonstration

 

http://www.cellsalive.com/cell_cycle.htm

 

More to Explore-

 

http://cellbio.utmb.edu/cellbio/

 

http://www.howstuffworks.com/cell.htm

 

http://www.cellsalive.com/

 

Interactive Virtual Labs

 

1 This "learning tool" is a complete web site called Tissues of Life.  Here students get to play, explore, meet, and visit all different ways to learn about the four major types of tissue in the human body. This cleverly designed site was developed by the Science Museum of Minnesota. A great site.

2 This "learning tool" is called the Web Enabled Virtual Microscope. Neuroinformatica is a proof-of-concept project that is defining the future of microscopy for researchers, students, and pathologists. Large portions of material on slides are scanned using a microscope, the images are placed on a web server, and a java applet on the client allows navigation and annotation of the material. Stunning quality images. This wonderful site is produced by MicroBrightField Inc.

3 Cells Alive! is a groundbreaking and innovative web site. One of the first web sites to use clear conceptual tools and imaging to show us about the diversity and processes of cells. This award winning site is truly one of a kind. This site is produced by Quill Graphics.

4 John Kyrk has produced some of the most incredible animations for biology and biochemistry. They are truly groundbreaking in the way they display information about  important molecules and processes of life. The "learning tool" John has created is called  Cell Biology Animation, just click to visit this wondrous work. The visualizations are very textured, so you may have to spend to time playing and discovering the work of this visionary.

5 The name of this "learning tool" is called Control of the Cell Cycle and you are to take on the job as a Cell Division Supervisor. Are you familiar with the different phases in the cell cycle? If not, maybe you should pay extra attention to the image of the cell cycle in the introduction. This wonderful, creative site is brought to you be the people that bring us the Nobel Prize at nobelprize.org.

6 The toy maker Mattel and the chip maker Intel have designed a microscope/stereoscope that can be attached to a computer for very nice imaging of cells. Click here to see a visual lesson of the QX3 in action. This review of the QX3 can give you some idea of what it can do.

7 This "learning tool" is  called The Digital Microscope and is found in the interactive zone of the Open University. Features include slide catalogue, scanning at low and high magnification, calibration and eyepiece grid to allow measurements of cell size & number to be made and notes to describe the cells. Tech Note: If your browser blocks "pop ups", hold the control key down as you click for the "learning tool".

8

The name of this "learning tool" is called Mitosis.  This visual lesson is conceptually clear and exceptionally well designed. Once you get to the site,  click Animation and then the Narrated button to see the animation. This tool was produced by Samanas, Inc. This company has created some of the most well executed animations for life science and statistics.

9

Stem cell research is an important topic. The name of this "learning tool" is called Human Embryonic Stem Cells. Elegantly designed, this tool conveys the basic biology behind stem cell research. This fine lesson is produced by Sumanas, Inc. Their work is conceptually clear and design is exceedingly well executed. Visit their Animation page to see other science topics. Just click the "Click to view animation" when you get to the page.

10 The name of this spectacular fusion of art and science is called Stages of Mitosis. This "learning tool" features a fly through and into a cell as it undergoes the stages of cell division. It may take a few viewings for students to "get it" but this exciting visual is well worth it. Produced by the people of Hybrid Medical Animation.  A related piece of work by Hybrid is their Inner Cell Illustration.

11 The name of this "learning tool" is called Water Weed Simulation. When you get to the site just click on the "i" button in the circle and you will discover all you need to make this photosynthesis interactive run! This is a unique way to show students the variables that can manipulated during this important process.  This tool has been developed by Aotea Interactive Media.  

12 The name of this clever "learning tool" is Medical Mysteries. This is a problem-based adventure game that engages you, the player, in the role of scientist, historian, and detective. There are three missions, each with its own learning objectives. The knowledge gained from each mission will help you understand how infectious diseases are spread. This wonderful interactive was developed by the Center for Technology in Teaching and Learning, Rice University
13 The process of cell mitosis and meiosis is shown in this animated Flash sequence. This elegant "learning tool" is called How Cells Divide and come to us from one of the best sources of science education on television and the web: NOVA.
14 PBS continues to be a leader in the field of science education. The name of this "learning tool" is called Red Gold: The Epic Story of Blood. This elegant and dramatic web site offers learners blood basics, blood history, innovators, pioneers among other interestingly presented information. This web site was developed for the PBS series of the same name.
15 MicrobeWorld is a wonderful "learning tool" brought to us by the American Society for Microbiology. This elegant web site offers a wide range of well presented and timely information. Anyone looking for a starting place for microbiology, this is it!

16 This "learning tool" is called Photosynthesis - Activity A  One of the most innovative science education companies is Explorelearning.com, they call their simulations, Gizmos. They are a subscription site, but they allow you to see this Gizmo for 5 minutes.   Shockwave is required.

 

 

 

 Practice Quiz

 

 

Quiz on Cell Biology

 

 

Click here to go back to the Interactive Lesson Page