Cells are the building blocks of living things. If you studied biology in school, your mother or father might assign you a model of an animal cell to add to your understanding of how cells work. Apart from that, you can also create cell models for science fairs. You can make cell models with simple ingredients to deepen your understanding while teaching others.
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Method 1 of 4: Preparing the Project
Step 1. Understand your task
You have to know what the expectations are and what the rules are. Do you want to make animal cells for science fairs or just for homework? There are many animal cell models that can be made and you have to work on them to the best of your ability. Make sure you really know what is expected of you. There are some important questions that you can ask yourself or the teacher, such as:
- Do you have to make your own animal cell designs or do you have to follow the teacher's instructions?
- Should the cells be edible or not?
- Which animal cell components should be included?
- How big is the size?
- When is the deadline for completion?
- Do the cells have to be 3D?
Step 2. Know the parts of an animal cell
One of the most important parts of an animal cell is to represent each part correctly. Remember that animal cells and plant cells look very different from each other. The cells have different parts and animal cells do not look as symmetrical as animal cells. Make sure you are familiar with the individual components of the cell as well, including their function, where they are located, and how they form. All of these things will help you to create a more accurate model. Animal cell parts you can make include:
- nucleus. The nucleus is the nucleus of the cell. In addition to the presence of DNA located here, the nucleus also regulates protein synthesis.
- Nucleolus. This part is the organelle where RNA is produced. This part is inside the cell nucleus. It is usually slightly darker in color than the nucleus.
- Nuclear membrane. This membrane is a thin layer that surrounds the nucleus.
- centrosome. This section helps make microtubules and is located outside the nucleus.
- cell membrane. The membrane is a thin protective layer of the cell made of protein and fat. This section only allows certain materials to enter while keeping other organic materials safe inside the cell.
- Cytoplasm. This part is wrapped by the cell outside the nucleus, but is still inside the cell membrane. The cytoplasm contains other cell organelles that regulate cell function and has a jelly-like consistency.
- lysosomes. These organelles digest nutrients and are circular in shape.
- Ribosomes. Ribosomes are shaped like seeds and very small in size. Its function is to help protein synthesis.
- Golgi body. This section looks like a stack of flat circles that serve to help build membranes for other organelles.
- Vacuole. This section looks like a fluid-filled sac encased in a membrane. Usually this section serves to store residual material.
- Endoplasmic Reticulum. It is a network of folded and connected tubules within the cell. The point is to transport material from one part to another. The endoplasmic reticulum that is wrapped in ribosomes is called the ''rough endoplasmic reticulum'', while the one that is not covered with ribosomes is called the ''smooth endoplasmic reticulum''. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum is a branch of rough endoplasmic reticulum.
- Mitochondria. Mitochondria convert glucose into energy for cells. The shape can be round or like a rod.
Step 3. Draw a map of animal cells
If you don't have a worksheet for labeling cell parts and how they look, you'll have to draw animal cells yourself. You will need a detailed and complete map of the animal cell to help you plan, design, and execute the model. Also make sure the map is big enough for you so that you can label each cell component clearly and accurately. Save this diagram and take it with you wherever you go so you can confirm again whether the cell model is correct or not.
Step 4. Start early
You can need a lot of time to create and structure the model, depending on the type of model you are creating,. For example, clay is hard to harden, so gelatin takes time to harden as well. While you may need some time to go buy other ingredients. Make sure you have enough time to plan and build the best possible cell model.
Method 2 of 4: Making Edible Animal Cells from Gelatin
Step 1. Purchase ingredients at the grocery store
Edible animal cell models can be made easily using inexpensive materials that are quite common in supermarkets or local markets. You have flexibility in choosing the specific material you want to use to represent the cell components. But in general, you will need brightly colored gelatin as a base material to represent the cytoplasm. Then, you also need plastic bags to make cell membranes, and various kinds of candy, fruit, and nuts to make organelles and other cell components. In general, some of the materials that can be purchased include:
- Bright colored gelatin powder, like Nutrijel jelly. In addition, you can also buy brightly colored fruit juices (such as lemonade) along with gelatin sachets. These materials will become the cytoplasm. Selection of a bright gelatin color is also very important so that other cell components will stand out.
- Large fruit with holes to represent the nucleus (fruit) and nucleolus (fruit pit). You can use plums, peaches, apricots, or cherries depending on how big the model is.
- Small, round fruit or candy. Fruits and candies will be used to represent lysosomes. For example, Cha-Cha chocolate, M&M, bubble gum, or wine can be examples of effective lysosomes.
- Fruit or candy oval or stick in shape. The part that will be represented by this fruit or candy is the mitochondria. Fruit or candy that can be used for example raisins and dried apricots depending on the size of the existing model.
- Slightly larger and irregularly sized fruit and candies. The part of the cell represented is the vacuole. Small banana slices or ring-shaped jelly candies are good choices.
- The candy is very small and shaped like a seed. This candy will represent the ribosome. So make sure the candy is small enough than the rest of the cell components. Some good examples of candy include: Tic-Tac, Frozz and small jelly candies.
- Round and solid candy. This candy will represent the centrosome. Examples of candy that can be used to represent it are Hexos and Strepsils candies.
- Long candy or string. This type of candy will represent the endoplasmic reticulum. If you want the model to look more precise, buy candy that is coated with sugar (to represent the rough endoplasmic reticulum) and another candy with a smooth surface (to represent the smooth endoplasmic reticulum). Some examples of candy that can be used are jelly candies, jelly worms, and various types of liquorice candies.
- Long flat candy or rolled fruit. You can represent the Golgi body very precisely if you roll a long, flat candy or fruit snack. Examples that can be used include Big Babol or Wrigley's gum, rolled fruit snacks, or other types of fruit peels that can be used to make these organelles.
Step 2. Line up a large bowl or cup with a clear plastic bag
These clear plastic bags are commonly used in many projects to represent cell membranes. The plastic bag should be clear so that your cell model is clearly visible. Look for a medium-sized bowl, large cup or container that can hold about 3.8 liters of liquid. After that align this container with a clear plastic bag. This container will serve as a gelatin mold as well as a cell model shell.
Step 3. Prepare the gelatin
Usually, jelly or gelatin products already have instructions on how to make jelly on the package. It's a good idea to follow the directions carefully with a few exceptions: don't add as much water as the agar pack suggests. This aims to keep the gelatin model stronger and denser, so that the gelatin model will not break easily. In general, the steps for gelatin preparation are as follows:
- Dissolve the gelatin powder in the boiling water in a heatproof bowl and stir carefully.
- Add cold water some boiling water.
- Let the gelatin cool.
- Pour the gelatin mixture into the bowl you aligned earlier.
- Cover the plastic bag and place in the refrigerator until the gelatin is almost set (about 45 minutes to an hour).
- Remove the plastic bag from the refrigerator when the gelatin is solid enough to hold the cell components, but still soft enough for you to fit fruit and candy into the mold.
Step 4. Add cell components based on the diagram
When the gelatin molds have hardened a little, you can add fruit, nuts, and candies that have been selected for the cell and organelle components. The gelatin should be flexible enough for you to use a spoon, straw, or finger to push these components into place within the gelatin cytoplasm. Don't forget to always look at your initial diagram to make sure all the parts are laid out correctly.
Step 5. Create a gelatin cell guide
If you're taking this model to school or to a science fair, don't forget to provide a hint so that people who see the model can distinguish each of the different components in the cell. You also have to tell them which part of the cell each candy represents.
If you have to take the cell model to a far place, it's better to put the model in a cooler so that the model doesn't melt too hot
Method 3 of 4: Making Edible Animal Cells from Cake
Step 1. Purchase materials
You need to have the right ingredients to create a 3D cell model made of cake, materials for the cytoplasm (jelly or brightly colored frosting), and 3D components for cell parts (nuts, fruit, candy, or fondant). You have the flexibility to design the cake or choose the specific ingredients you want to use to represent the parts of the cell. However, in general, you will need the following materials:
- Cake dough for two layers of round cake. You can choose a cake with any taste and color. You can even bake each layer with a different taste and color. This layer will be the base of the cell.
- Cupcake garnishes, large pieces of fruit, or cookie cutters into round shapes to form the nucleus in the center of the cake.
- At least two different colors of frosting. You can choose two different flavors (like lemon and raspberry) or you can add food coloring to the brightly colored frosting to create a second color. You'll need to use a lighter colored frosting to make the cytoplasm on top of the cake. Meanwhile, the darker frosting can be used as cell membranes on the sides of the cake.
- Fondant and food coloring. If you want to make your own cell components from fondant, buy fondant at the store along with different types of food coloring to distinguish the organelles from one another. You can also make your own fondant. If you don't want to make your own cell components, choose a fruit, candy, or nut with an appropriate shape to represent each cell component.
- Fruit or small round candy. These fruits and candies will become lysosomes. For example, M&M, ChaCha, bubble gum, or grapes can be effective representations of lysosomes.
- Candy oval or stick, nut, or fruit. These foods will become mitochondria. Examples of foods that can be used are raisins, almonds, and dried apricots. Also think about the size of the model so you can choose the right type of food.
- A fruit, nut or candy that is slightly larger and not quite the same shape. These foods will represent the vacuole. Examples of foods that can be used are sliced bananas, Brazil nuts, and Yuppie rings.
- Candy that is very small and shaped like a seed or meses. This candy will represent the ribosome, so it has to be quite small in comparison to the rest of the cell's components. Some examples of candy that can be used include Tictac and Frozz.
- Solid round candy. This candy will become a centrosome. Examples of candy that can be used are Nano-Nano, Golia, and others.
- Long stick candy. Candy like this can be used to represent the endoplasmic reticulum. If you want this part to look exactly, buy candy that has been coated in sugar (to represent the rough endoplasmic reticulum) and candy without the sugar coating (to represent the smooth endoplasmic reticulum). Some of the candies that can be used are Yuppie worms, liquorice candies, and others.
- Long flat candy or rolled fruit. You can represent the Golgi body very precisely if you roll a long, flat candy or fruit snack. Examples that can be used include Big Babol or Wrigley's gum, rolled fruit snacks, or other types of fruit peels that can be used to make these organelles.
Step 2. Bake the cake
Use a round cake tin made of tin and bake the cookie dough according to the instructions on the cake wrap. You can also make the dough with your own recipe if you want. However, make sure you have enough dough for two layers of the round cake.
Step 3. Decorate the cake when the cake has cooled
Once the cake is cooked and cooled, you can start decorating it. Apply a thin layer of icing of any color on top of the first layer of cake. After that, place the second layer of cake on top of the first layer. Make sure both cake layers are even. Then, coat the top of the cake with a brightly colored icing. This section will represent the cytoplasm. Don't forget to decorate the sides of the cake with dark icing. This section will represent the cell membrane.
Step 4. Decide how you want to represent the nucleus
There are several ways to place the nucleus on top of your cell cake. For example, you can cut the top of a cupcake and then place it in the center of the cake. In addition, you can use round pieces of fruit such as apricots or plums that have been cut in half. There is also another option by perforating the top layer of the cake the size of a cookie so that the bottom layer of the cake is visible. Whichever method you choose can make excellent nuclear models. Make sure that the nucleus is round and is located in the center of the cake.
Step 5. Color and shape the fondant
Fondant is an edible material and is often used by many cake decorators to form the delicate and intricate components of cake decorations. If you want to shape the cell parts yourself, divide the fondant into seven parts. Color each part of the fondant using a different food coloring. Then, use your hands to shape each cell component including:
- Lysosomes are small and round
- Ribosomes are tiny granules
- The endoplasmic reticulum is long and thin
- Centrosome is round and solid
- Golgi bodies are stacked flat circles
- Mitochondria are string-shaped
- Vacuoles are irregularly shaped and hollow
Step 6. Place the organelles and cell parts on top of the cake
At this stage, you should have prepared all the cell components, both those made from fondant or made from candy and nuts. Arrange all of these pieces on top of the cake so that they are in the right places according to your diagram. Don't forget to be grateful when the job is well done!
Step 7. Label the cell parts if needed
If you must label the components of a cell, write the name of the component on a small piece of paper and stick it to a toothpick. Then, insert this name flag in the right place on the cake. People will know which part of the cell each candy, fondant, or nut represents when reading the flag.
Method 4 of 4: Create an Inedible Animal Cell Model from Materials You Have at Home
Step 1. Purchase the necessary materials
There are many ways that can be used to build animal cell models from easily found and inexpensive materials. Check to see if you have any materials at home that you will need before buying anything else. In general, the materials you will need are:
- Evening candles or colorful Play-Doh
- Synthetic cork balls (styrofoam) in various sizes
- Paint in different colors
- Glue
- Toothpick
- Scissors or sharp knife
- pipe cleaner
- Cardboard
- Small round objects such as buttons, dry noodles, beads, cardboard, foam board, glitter, or small plastic.
Step 2. Use a spherical solid object as the base of the cell
Synthetic cork balls can be the best option to use as a cell base. However, other round objects can also make good bases as long as they don't have holes in them but can be drilled with a knife or scissors. For example, a large ball or a night candle.
Color the ball any color if the ball has not been colored. You can use a night candle in your favorite color or Play-Doh to coat the outside of the ball with a bold color
Step 3. Cut a quarter of the ball
Use a sharp knife to cut a quarter of the ball. Before cutting it, first mark the part to be cut using a pencil. Then, cut from the top end of the ball to the center of the ball and remove the knife. Next, rotate the knife cut by 90 degrees to cut the ball into the center. You'll be able to get the perfect 90 degree cut from here. After that, remove the pieces of the ball that are at a 90 degree angle from the ball. This part that has been punched will show the incision inside the cell.
Step 4. Paint the incision inside the ball with a different color
The inside of the ball must be painted in a different color. This section will represent the cytoplasm. You can paint the cytoplasm in your favorite color, but lighter colors are better because this color will make other parts of the cell stand out.
Step 5. Glue the cell components with glue or a toothpick based on the diagram
Look for objects around the house that can be used to represent cell components. If you're having trouble finding items that represent organelles, make this piece yourself from Play-Doh or a night candle. After that, glue these cell components at the incision site using glue or a toothpick, depending on the texture of the ball. If the ball is made of a soft material such as synthetic foam or wax, the components must be glued together with a toothpick. Meanwhile, you can use glue to attach the organelles to a ball made of a harder material such as plastic. Don't forget to always check the original diagram you have to make sure that all the components are placed in the correct place. There are some suggestions for objects that can be used to create cell models. For example:
- For the nucleus: Play-Doh balls or small night candles, synthetic foam balls (cut in half), ping pong balls (cut in half), the tops of plastic bottles used for milk, or plastic eggs.
- For the endoplasmic reticulum: rope, thread, rubber, or elastic cord.
- Golgi body: a round pile of glued cardboard or folded ribbon
- Ribosomes: confetti, glitter, dry ice
- Lysosomes: buttons, small round plastic, small circles of paper or cardboard, or small balls of wax
- Mitochondria: raw macaroni, oval or oval-shaped buttons, almond-shaped beads, or dried raw nuts.
- Vacuoles: glass beads, hollow rubber balls cut in half, bottle caps, or small pieces of plastic bags.
Step 6. Label the cell components with the flag from the toothpick
Make flags from toothpicks and triangular cardboard that are glued to each cell component (nucleus, lysosomes, mitochondria, etc.). Label each component clearly and correctly. After that, insert the toothpick flag into the open incision of the cell model. Now, mom or dad teacher and your friends can distinguish each part of the cell easily!
Tips
- Don't procrastinate on this project. It may take you a few tries to create an edible cell model (perhaps the gelatin is less dense or the cake is scorched). In addition, you may be able to make mistakes when selecting the other components as well. Allow enough time to rebuild components and fix errors.
- Remember that it's okay if you make mistakes. Especially if this is your first science exhibition. Failure and hope are the keys to success. Make sure you start this project early so you can fix any mistakes.
- Make sure each cell structure is represented by some feature or object in the project. Also, make sure that each component of the model looks similar to the original part of the cell.
- Experiment with different ingredients to find out which one works best. If you don't like the appearance of some parts of the cell, replace them with other materials until the cells look nice and make sense.
- Don't be in a hurry.
Warning
- Don't hurt yourself when baking cookies or boiling water. Use special oven gloves and heat-resistant cookware to minimize the chance of accidents.
- Be careful when cutting things with a knife or scissors. If you are too young to use a knife or scissors, ask a parent or sibling to help you cut or cut the material.
- If you plan to eat or serve edible cell models to others, make sure no one is allergic to the ingredients you use.
