Science project
3D Animal Cell Model
Grade Level:3rd; Type:Life Science
Buildings are made of multiple bricks; you are made of millions of cells. The cell is the basic unit of all living things. The cells in your body vary in size, a single nerve cell can be up to a 1 metre long, but the more typical cells lining the inside of your cheek are .05 millimeters. The cell is made of many important parts, called Organelles, that do different jobs
Materials
- A pie pan or round casserole dish
- Clear or yellow gelatin mix
- Measuring cup
- Water
- Spoon
- Refrigerator
- Stove
- Clear plastic wrap
- Assorted food items (see procedure)
Procedure
- Gather the foods that will represent the organelles your cell. The following table includes a summary of the organelle’s and appearance function and some Suggested Items. Feel free to substitute.
Organelle | Appearance and Function | Suggested Items |
Cell Membrane | Thin film, regulates what comes in and out of cell | Clear plastic wrap that you put between gelatin and dish |
Nucleus | Spherical, the control centre of the cell | Plum, apricot, or any spherical fruit with a pit |
Nucleolus | Involved in building proteins, found inside nucleus | Plum pit or apricot pit |
Nuclear Membrane | Thin film, regulates what comes in and out of nucleus. | Skin of fruit |
Endoplasmic Recticulum (ER) | Smooth and rough folds and tubes, where cell materials are manufactured | Red vines or other string-like candy |
Mitochondria | Spherical and rod-shaped, provides energy for cell | Raisins |
Ribosomes | Small and in clusters, make proteins | Sprinkles |
Lysosome | Round, break down waste in cell. | Chocolate chips, Skittles, or other small, round candy |
Golgi Body | Stacked layers near nucleus, package materials to be sent out of cell | Folded up Fruit-by-the-Foot |
Vacuole | Large and filled with fluid, storage tanks for cell waste | Gumball, or other larger spherical candy |
Your 3d animal cell model may not look like typical cell diagrams, but actually building a 3D model will help you visualize and remember the parts of the cell. The gelatin in your cell model represents Cytosol. The cytosol is the clear liquid within the cell that surrounds the organelles. Together, the cytosol and organelles in the cytosol are called the Cytoplasm. Just like the gelatin, real cytosol has proteins, sugars, and other large molecules in it.
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