Cell to Farm Comparison

Nucleus

The Farmer’s House

Protects the farmer and helps to control the farm, much like the nucleus protects the nucleolus and helps to control the cell

Cell Membrane

Fences

The keep things out that shouldn’t be in the farm

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

Paths

The paths break off from the main area in different directions to transport different , just like the smooth endoplasmic reticulum is a network breaking off into different directions

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

Pig Pens

Rough endoplasmic reticulum hold ribosomes which produce protein. Just like pig pens hold pigs which produce protein.

Ribosome

Pigs

Ribosomes produce proteins when given raw material just like pigs produce protein when they are fed

Golgi Apparatus

Farmer’s wife

The farmer’s wife can turn small things (wool, food ingredients, seeds, etc) and turn it into something bigger and better (blanket, meals, garden, etc). The golgi does the same, except with molecules and atoms.

Mitochondria

Windmill

Windmills generate power. Mitochondria are sometimes called cellular power plants. Power plants make energy, and so do windmills.

Vesicles

Gator/ Vehicle

Vehicles can transport pretty much anything. Vesicles transport chemicals, similar to vehicles and gators.

Cytoplasm

Oxygen

Cytoplasm fills up all the empty space. Oxygen fills up the empty space on a farm too. Any where open, there is oxygen.

Microtubules

Nails, screws, wire, etc

These hold everything on the farm together and give it structure. The microtubules hold everything together and keep their shape and structure.

If the mitochondria (Windmill) was missing, there would be no energy to run the farm. It would be a lot harder to do anything productive or even unproductive.

If the cytoplasm (Oxygen) was missing, we wouldn’t be able to breath. We would die from not having oxygen.

If the microtubules (Nails, Screws, Wires, etc) were missing, nothing would stay together. Everything would be falling apart.

If the rough endoplasmic reticulum (Pig pens) was missing, the pigs would be running wild and couldn’t be contained.

If the ribosomes (Pigs) were missing, the farmer and his family wouldn’t get any protein. They would be weak and not able to complete their other chores without great difficulty.