Question

practice: cell analogy
read the example analogy below and label which underlined words match the different organelles listed. then,
in the space at the bottom of the page, create your own cell analogy!
there is a building in the middle of town designed for making donuts. in the building are special ovens where
these donuts are made. in the center of the building is an office where the bakers keep all of the recipes for
making the donuts. within the office there is a small workspace where the special oven parts are designed and
assembled.
outside of the office is a conveyor belt which is used to move the baking sheets, pieces of the oven, and other
necessary things to the ovens. there are many generators that provide the energy to power the ovens so that
they can bake donuts all day. once the donuts are made, they are sent to the decorating station to be iced,
sprinkled, and packaged up for delivery. rolling carts are used to move the donuts from place to place, and
eventually to the delivery trucks lined up along the back wall of the building to take them out into the town.
if any of the donuts get damaged in the process, they get placed in the break room where hungry employees will
destroy them on their breaks.
part 1: match the parts of the building (underlined) with the parts of the cell listed below.

1. ribosomes: donuts
2. nucleus: wall
3. cell membrane: workspace
4. mitochondria: generators
5. lysosomes: break room
6. golgi apparatus: conveyor belt
7. nucleolus: oven
8. protein: office
9. vesicles: cart
10. endoplasmic reticulum: decorating station

Explanation:

• Ribosomes: Ribosomes are the sites of protein synthesis. In the analogy, donuts are made (synthesized) in the ovens, similar to how ribosomes make proteins.
• Nucleus: The nucleus controls the cell's activities and contains genetic material. The office in the building analogy holds the recipes (like genetic material) and controls the donut - making process.
• Cell Membrane: The cell membrane regulates what enters and leaves the cell. The wall of the building controls what enters and leaves the donut - making space.
• Mitochondria: Mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cell, providing energy. The generators in the building provide energy to power the ovens.
• Lysosomes: Lysosomes break down waste. The break room in the analogy is where damaged donuts (waste) are broken down (eaten by employees).
• Golgi Apparatus: The Golgi Apparatus modifies, sorts, and packages proteins. The conveyor belt in the building moves and “packages” (transports) items (akin to how the Golgi packages proteins).
• Nucleolus: The nucleolus is involved in ribosome synthesis. The workspace in the office (nucleus - like structure) where oven parts (similar to ribosome components) are designed.
• Protein: Proteins are synthesized in the cell. Donuts are the “products” (like proteins) made in the donut - making “cell” (building).
• Vesicles: Vesicles transport materials within the cell. The carts in the building transport donuts (materials) from place to place.
• Endoplasmic Reticulum: The endoplasmic reticulum is involved in protein and lipid synthesis and transport. The decorating station modifies (like the ER modifies proteins) and prepares donuts for delivery (transport).

Answer:

1. Ribosomes: donuts
2. Nucleus: office
3. Cell Membrane: wall
4. Mitochondria: generators
5. Lysosomes: break room
6. Golgi Apparatus: conveyor belt
7. Nucleolus: workspace
8. Protein: donuts
9. Vesicles: carts
10. Endoplasmic Reticulum: decorating station