This is the model of an animal cell utilizing various beads, gems, ribbons, thread and other craft items. I constructed the cell, along with an example of DNA, RNA, the process of mitosis, and the process of transcription and translation. The project began as this:
The beginning...
and continues...
My cell consists of the following:
- Cell - large white styrofoam disc
- Cell membrane- dark purple ribbon
- Ribosomes- small pink gems
- Lysosomes- dark purple gems
- Vesicles- light purple gems
- Endoplasmic Reticulum- folded purple ribbon
- Golgi Apparatus- folded light purple ribbon
- Mitochondria- striated pink glass beads
- Centrosome- red star
- Microtubules (cilia, flagella)- toothpicks
- Nucleus- small white styrofoam disc
- Nuclear membrane-compiled dark purple ribbon with light purple dotted overlay (for nuclear pores)
- Nucleolus- black button
- Chromatin- purple thread
- Chromosomes- purple and blue pipe cleaners
Prior to completing the cell model, I constructed the following pictures to represent the following, as I could not fit them into my completed cell model:
DNA Ladder Structure
- White buttons- phosphates
- Pink gems- deoxyribose sugar
- Blue gems- thymine
- Yellow gems- adenine
- Red Gems- cytosine
- Green gems- guanine
Structure of RNA
The above picture represents RNA:
- White buttons- phosphate
- Pink gems- ribose
- Green gems- guanine
- Purple gems- uracil (instead of thymine in DNA)
- Yellow gems- adenine
- Red gems- cytosine
The following pictures represent transcription and translation:
Transcription
Transcription occurs within the nucleus. The DNA molecule serves as a template for RNA. The mRNA is processed prior to leaving the nucleus. The mRNA leaves the nucleus a mature mRNA through the disintegrating nuclear membrane.
- Green pipe cleaner -DNA
- Purple pipe cleaner- mRNA
- Green gems- guanine
- Red gems- cytosine
- Yellow gems- adenine
- Purple gems- uracil
- Blue gems- thymine
- White area- nucleus
Translation occurs outside the nucleus:
mRNA moving into cytoplasm to ribosomes
tRNA
tRNAs with anticodons carry amino acids to mRNA. Inside the ribosomal subunits, the anticodon-codon base pairing occurs and the polypeptide synthesis takes place one amino acid at a time.
- White button- nuclear pore
- Purple pipe cleaner- mRNA
- Coconut doughnut- small and large ribosomal subunits
tRNA
- Oblong green gems- tRNA
- Red-Yellow-Purple gem chain- anticodon
- Blue gem/yellow gem- peptides
tRNAs with anticodons carry amino acids to mRNA. Inside the ribosomal subunits, the anticodon-codon base pairing occurs and the polypeptide synthesis takes place one amino acid at a time.
Translation
Early prophase-centrosomes have duplicated, chromatin is condensing
Prophase- nucleolus has disappeared and duplicated chromosomes are visible, spindle in the process of forming
Early metaphase- each chromatid is attached to a spindle fiber, spindle fibers stretch from each pole and overlap
Metaphase-centromeres of duplicated chromosomes are aligned at the equator, spindle fibers are attached to the sister chromatids come from opposite spindle poles
Anaphase-sister chromatids part and become daughter chromosomes that move toward spindle poles (obviously the cells would still be pulling apart and not separate yet)
Telophase-daughter cells are forming as nuclear envelopes and nucleoli reappear
The final product...
Animal cell completion with key
Completed cell
View of cell showing cell membrane and nuclear membrane
- White area- cytoplasm
- Coconut doughnut- ribosome
- Large purple beads strung together- peptides
- Purple pipe cleaner- mRNA
- Oblong green gems- tRNA
- Bottom row of gems along purple pipe cleaner grouped in 3's- codons
- Group of gems by 3's near the green oblong gem- anticodons
- Purple and blue pipe cleaners-chromosomes/sister chromatids
- Purple thread- Chromatin
- Brown thread- spindle fibers
- Pink gems- spindle poles
Early prophase-centrosomes have duplicated, chromatin is condensing
Prophase- nucleolus has disappeared and duplicated chromosomes are visible, spindle in the process of forming
Early metaphase- each chromatid is attached to a spindle fiber, spindle fibers stretch from each pole and overlap
Metaphase-centromeres of duplicated chromosomes are aligned at the equator, spindle fibers are attached to the sister chromatids come from opposite spindle poles
Anaphase-sister chromatids part and become daughter chromosomes that move toward spindle poles (obviously the cells would still be pulling apart and not separate yet)
Telophase-daughter cells are forming as nuclear envelopes and nucleoli reappear
The final product...
Animal cell completion with key
Completed cell
- Cell - large white styrofoam disc
- Cell membrane- dark purple ribbon
- Ribosomes- small pink gems
- Lysosomes- dark purple gems
- Vesicles- light purple gems
- Endoplasmic Reticulum- folded purple ribbon
- Golgi Apparatus- folded light purple ribbon
- Mitochondria- striated pink glass beads
- Centrosome- red star
- Microtubules (cilia, flagella)- toothpicks
- Nucleus- small white styrofoam disc
- Nuclear membrane-compiled dark purple ribbon with light purple dotted overlay (for nuclear pores)
- Nucleolus- black button
- Chromatin- purple thread
- Chromosomes- purple and blue pipe cleaners
View of cell showing cell membrane and nuclear membrane
