Lesson Cell Celebration!

Learning Objectives

After this lesson, students should be able to:

• Compare and contrast prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
• List examples of how engineers use cells to keep people and the environment safe and healthy.

Educational Standards

Each TeachEngineering lesson or activity is correlated to one or more K-12 science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) educational standards.

All 100,000+ K-12 STEM standards covered in TeachEngineering are collected, maintained and packaged by the Achievement Standards Network (ASN), a project of D2L (www.achievementstandards.org).

In the ASN, standards are hierarchically structured: first by source; e.g., by state; within source by type; e.g., science or mathematics; within type by subtype, then by grade, etc.

NGSS: Next Generation Science Standards - Science

International Technology and Engineering Educators Association - Technology

State Standards

Worksheets and Attachments

Introduction/Motivation

Today, we are going to talk about cells and how important they are. Even though most cells are much too small for us to see, they are still very important. Engineers use their knowledge of cells to benefit our health and safety, by creating disenfectants, medicines, materials and many other "things" that rely on cells. Did you know that there are millions of cells living in and on your body right now? (Note: If students seem to already know this, take a few comments about what kinds of cells live in and on our bodies.) We have bacteria in our digestive tracts that help us turn our food into energy so that we can run, jump and grow. There are also microorganisms in our body that can make us sick. For example, strep throat is another a type of bacteria, but it makes us sick instead of helps us digest food and nutrients.

Engineering advancements help people stay healthy — clean drinking water, for example. Engineers work to protect people from harmful cells while making sure they do not destroy beneficial cells. Can anyone think of a way that we might protect ourselves from cells that might make us sick? (Possible examples include: washing your hands and covering your mouth when you cough; the sterilization of surgical tools; the treatment of drinking water before it comes out of the tap.) Now, can anyone name one way to make sure that helpful bacteria stay alive? (Discuss how doctors recommend that we eat unpasturized yogurt to keep good bacteria in our digestive tract). Refer to the Sudsy Cells activity to have students engineer their own investigation of bacteria gowth and applications to help prevent those that are unwanted!

Not only is it important to have good bacteria living in our bodies, but it is also beneficial to have organisms in the environment that "eat" pollution. Have any of you seen pictures of oil spills? (Note: If available, show students pictures from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 or the Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska in 1989.) They are very damaging to the environment. Although we can clean up a lot of the oil, it is usually impossible to clean up all of the oil right away since the spills often cover a large area and spread quickly. Engineers have learned to use bacteria that "eat" oil as a way to speed up oil spill clean-up. This process is called bioremediation.

For engineers to control cell growth, whether it is to promote it or prevent it, they must know how the cells live. Today we are going to learn about the two major types of cells: eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Eukaryotes are the cells that make up our body, and they have many parts called organelles. Prokaryotes are cells that are found in bacteria, and they do not have organelles. Even though the two types of cells are very different, they are both able to eat, breathe, grow and reproduce.

Lesson Background and Concepts for Teachers

Cells are living organisms. In order to be alive, a cell must have a metabolism, respond to stimuli and reproduce. While the science behind cells is important to know, the engineering behind cells is fascinating. Let's briefly review the science behind cells.

Prokaryotes

Prokaryotes are simple cells that do not contain a nucleus or other membrane bound organelles. The major parts of a prokaryotic cell include: cell wall, cell membrane, ribosomes, and a nucleoid (see Vocabulary section). Even with a minimal number of parts, these cells are able to eat, breathe and reproduce.

Two kingdoms of organisms comprise prokaryotes: bacteria and archaea. Bacteria make up most of the prokaryotes. In additon, archaea are found in extreme environments such as hot springs or near volcanoes. The difference between bacteria and archaea is their type of cell wall: archaea have a thicker cell wall that is very strong and protects it from the heat and chemicals found in harsh environments, and bacteria have a more permeable cell wall that provides less protection from high temperatures or extreme pH, but takes less energy to build. Both bacteria and archaea are unicellular organisms. Although they sometimes live in colonies, each cell could survive on its own and reproduce without the others.

Eukaryotes

Eukaryotes are complex cells with many organelles. The major organelles found in a eukaryotic cell are: cell membrane, cell wall, ribosomes, nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and lysosomes (see Vocabulary section). There are both unicellular and multicellular eukaryotes. The four kingdoms of eukaryotic organisms are plants, animals, fungi and protists. Plants are photosynthetic organisms containing cell walls and specialized reproductive tissue. Animals are organisms that lack cell walls, but are capable of locomotion and have a digestive tract. Fungi digest their food externally and then absorb it through their cell walls. Plants, animals and fungi are all multicellular organisms. Protists are single celled motile organisms that can be either photosynthetic or heterotrophic.

Eukaryotes and Prokaryotes Similarities

Some similarities between prokaryotes and eukaryotes exist. First, they both have cell membranes that separate the cell interior from the outside environment. They both have ribosomes that help make proteins and enzymes for metabolism. Finally, both prokaryotes and eukaryotes have their genetic material in the form of DNA. Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, contains the information the cell needs to make proteins to breakdown food into energy as well as the instructions for reproduction.

Associated Activities

• Sudsy Cells - Students become engineers and culture bacteria cells from their hands in order to find out which type of soap is best at removing the bacteria. They extend their knowledge to engineering design of different surfactants (soaps) for a variety of applications from oil spills to medical procedures.

  Watch this activity on YouTube

Lesson Closure

Today we learned about the two types of cells: eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Can anyone tell me one difference between the two kinds of cells? (Answer: Prokaryotes do not have a nucleus or other membrane bound organelles while eukaryotes do.) Can anyone name one example of a prokaryote? (Answer: Bacteria that can make us sick or the beneficial bacteria used in bioremediation and in our digestive tract.) Can anyone give an example of a eukaryote? (Possible answers: Plants, animals, mushrooms, algae, not all eukaryotic organisms are multicellular.) The differences and similarities between the two types of cells are important to engineers because they use this information when trying to control cell growth in the environment, which is important to plans, animals and especially humans. Engineers must understand cell structure in order to design strategies to destroy harmful cells so that we can lead healthy lives. For example, engineers must understand cell structure before designing soaps that can break up the fatty layers of a cell membrane in order to destroy the cells that can make us sick. It's fascinating!

Vocabulary/Definitions

cell membrane : (P) (E) A thin layer that separates the inside of the cell from the outside environment; a boundary that governs what goes in and out of the cell.

cell wall : (P) A layer that supports the cell and acts as a further barrier between the cell interior and the environment.

chloroplast : (E) Captures energy from sunlight in a photosynthetic cell.

cytoplasm : (P) (E) A fluid inside the cell that is similar to gel.

deoxyribonucleic acid : (P) (E) Known as DNA; contains the information the cell needs to make proteins to breakdown food into energy as well as the instructions for reproduction.

endoplasmic reticulum: (E) A system of membranes that transports nutrients and proteins within the cell; some parts of it are covered with ribosomes to facilitate making proteins.

enzyme: (P) (E) Protein the cell produces to speed up chemical reactions.

golgi apparatus: (E) The part of a cell that modifies and transports proteins.

lysosome: (E) A sack that contains various enzymes.

mitochondria : (E) The part of a cell that produces energy for the cell by respiration.

nucleoid : (P) The circular genetic material found in a coil in a prokaryotic cell.

nucleus : (E) The control center of the cell that contains the DNA; found in strands in the nucleus.

organelle : (E) "Little organs" inside the cell; examples are the mitochondria, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, golgi apparatus and lysosomes.

ribosome : (P) (E) The structure that reads DNA in order to make proteins.

Assessment

Pre-Lesson Assessment

Discussion Question: Ask a discussion question to get students to think about the upcoming lesson. Ask the students about organisms that are good for them and those that can make them sick. See if any students already know about prokaryotes and eukaryotes or that a classification system exists for organisms.

Post-Introduction Assessment

Voting: Ask a true/false question and have students vote by holding thumbs up for true and thumbs down for false. Count the votes and write the totals on the board. Give the right answer.

• True or False: Eukaryotes are complex cells with a nucleus and other membrane bound organelles. (Answer: True)
• True or False: Bacteria are an example of eukaryotes. (Answer: False, bacteria are an example of prokaryotes.)
• True or False: Engineers try to kill all bacteria because they are all harmful. (Answer: False, engineers often use good bacteria to help keep humans and the environment healthy.)
• True or False: Through a process called bioremediation, engineers try to promote the growth of bacteria to can eat substances that are toxic to humans. (Answer: True)

Lesson Summary Assessment

Cell Bingo: Give students a sheet of paper with either a eukaryotic or prokaryotic cell drawn on it (see Attachments section). Cut small strips of paper and write one of the following words on each piece of paper: cell membrane, cell wall, nucleoid, ribosome, cytoplasm, nucleus, mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. Place all strips of paper with cell structures written on them in a hat. Remove only one cell structure from the hat at a time. Students who have that structure in their cell must fill in the blank on their bingo sheet. The first student to fill in all the blanks on his/her cell raises his/her hand. To be the winner, the student must have labeled each structure properly and be able to tell the class the function of each cell structure and what type of cell it is.

Lesson Extension Activities

Make Your Own Yogurt: As engineers, students can make their own yogurt (by growing prokaryotes in milk) and sweeten it with preserves from fruit (eukaryotes). It takes 6-8 hours to culture, so if the activity is done in the morning, it should be ready by the end of the day. The recipe for making your own yogurt is: 1.75 cups powdered milk, 4 cups very warm water (110-125˚F), 1/3 cup plain yogurt with no preservatives. Whisk the first two ingredients until smooth and then whisk in yogurt. Incubate in an insulated cooler to keep it warm for 6-8 hours. Add fruit preserves to sweeten the yogurt and enjoy. It might also be interesting to note that the pH of the yogurt is very low, making it difficult for other, potentially harmful, bacteria to grow in the yogurt.

References

Copyright

Contributors

Supporting Program

Acknowledgements

The contents of this digital library curriculum were developed under a grant from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), U.S. Department of Education and National Science Foundation GK-12 grant no. 0338326. However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policies of the Department of Education or National Science Foundation, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government.