Introduction to Cells
When you look in the mirror and see your skin what you are really seeing is millions and millions of cells. Cells are the basis of all living things. They grow and divide constantly in our bodies to serve a variety of purposes. Cells are responsible for processes like sensing the environment, making hair, protecting our tissues, and flexing our muscles.
Cells are able to accomplish their tasks through the aid of very essential, hard-working molecules called proteins. Think of proteins as robot workers in a factory: factories are full of working robots that work a wide variety of jobs inside the factory, such as turning on equipment for example; some robots work as guards at entrances and exits to the factory; others travel between factories on business. Cells have the functions of workers carried out by proteins. Proteins are found in all cells, both inside the cells, on cells, and between cells. Cells are able to successfully complete all their amazing functions by working very hard and working as a community with other cells—this is how we stay alive.
It is important to understand the size of cells in relation to other biological particles. Cells are so small you can’t see them with your eyes; you need a microscope to see them. Cells are extremely small, but they are made of even smaller parts called molecules. Molecules are made of atoms. Think of atoms as really tiny pieces, then molecules are a few to a few thousand of those small pieces put together. For example, atoms are like bricks that group together to form buildings (molecules). When many of these buildings come together you form a city, which can be thought of, like a cell. To see an example of sizes of cells visit: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/cells/scale/.
Skin cells
While it may seem that something as small as cells is hard to visualize, you actually see cells every day. Your skin cells are constantly sloughing off your skin and are being replaced by new ones. If you put clear tape of your skin and pull it off you can see all your old skin cells on the tape. When those cells are pulled off the layer of skin cells underneath becomes the outer layer. This is possible because cells underneath your top layer of skin are growing and dividing to make more cells and push the older cells off the top. The skin cells that slough off fall to the ground, and after a short amount of time this accumulates as dust. This means that the dust you see in your house on the floor or on furniture are actually clumps of your old dead skin cells!
Animal Cells
The differences between plant and animal cells are small and have to do with presence or absence of certain components and structures of cells. Plant cells have a few parts that are different then animal cells, but the overall operation of cells is the same throughout all organisms. Animal cells are the types of cells we have in our bodies.
Cells are able to accomplish their tasks through the aid of very essential, hard-working molecules called proteins. Think of proteins as robot workers in a factory: factories are full of working robots that work a wide variety of jobs inside the factory, such as turning on equipment for example; some robots work as guards at entrances and exits to the factory; others travel between factories on business. Cells have the functions of workers carried out by proteins. Proteins are found in all cells, both inside the cells, on cells, and between cells. Cells are able to successfully complete all their amazing functions by working very hard and working as a community with other cells—this is how we stay alive.
It is important to understand the size of cells in relation to other biological particles. Cells are so small you can’t see them with your eyes; you need a microscope to see them. Cells are extremely small, but they are made of even smaller parts called molecules. Molecules are made of atoms. Think of atoms as really tiny pieces, then molecules are a few to a few thousand of those small pieces put together. For example, atoms are like bricks that group together to form buildings (molecules). When many of these buildings come together you form a city, which can be thought of, like a cell. To see an example of sizes of cells visit: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/cells/scale/.
Skin cells
While it may seem that something as small as cells is hard to visualize, you actually see cells every day. Your skin cells are constantly sloughing off your skin and are being replaced by new ones. If you put clear tape of your skin and pull it off you can see all your old skin cells on the tape. When those cells are pulled off the layer of skin cells underneath becomes the outer layer. This is possible because cells underneath your top layer of skin are growing and dividing to make more cells and push the older cells off the top. The skin cells that slough off fall to the ground, and after a short amount of time this accumulates as dust. This means that the dust you see in your house on the floor or on furniture are actually clumps of your old dead skin cells!
Animal Cells
The differences between plant and animal cells are small and have to do with presence or absence of certain components and structures of cells. Plant cells have a few parts that are different then animal cells, but the overall operation of cells is the same throughout all organisms. Animal cells are the types of cells we have in our bodies.