The Research Experience for Teachers Program
http://www.cs.appstate.edu/ret
Subject Area(s): Biology
Computer Science Tools: ImageJ
Activity Title: Comparing and Analyzing Cell Size Using ImageJ
Grade Level: 9-11
Time Required: 90 minutes
Recommended Group Size: 2-3 students
Summary:
Standard: In this activity, students will measure and analyze a set of cell images using ImageJ.
Based on their findings, they will classify each cell as prokaryotic, eukaryotic, or neither. By
observing these cell images, students should also make connections about other differences
(presence of nucleus, other organelles, cell shape, etc.) they note between cell types.
Honors: In this activity, students will collect cell images from Google, measure and analyze the
diameters of these various cell images using ImageJ; then, based on their findings sort the cell
images as being prokaryotic or eukaryotic. Students will also make connections about other
differences (presence of nucleus, other organelles, cell shape, etc) they note between the cell
types.
Computer Science Connection: Students will develop a basic understanding of measurement
and data collection using ImageJ.
Keywords: Google, ImageJ, cell, prokaryotic, eukaryotic, nucleus
Pre-Requisite Knowledge: Students should be familiar with characteristics of cell types.
Students should also have experience with measurement and the idea of scale.
Learning Objective: Using imaging software to accurately determine cell size, students will
collect data to properly classify cells as either prokaryotic or eukaryotic.
Materials List:
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Computers with access to Google
Computers with access to ImageJ. ImageJ can be downloaded to your computer here
Pre-lab ImageJ Workshop found here
Standard Level: Teacher provides images. Images listed below and on the RET
website.
Honors Level: Students seek out and provide their own images
Excel Spreadsheet with Microsoft Word, or Nµmbers (Mac) with Pages (Mac) to record
data
***Students may want to set-up their data as follows:
ImageJ Cell Lab
Image 1
Image 2
Diameter
31.525µm
2 µm
Classification
(Pro/Eu/Neither)
Eukaryotic
Prokaryotic
Reasoning
Large Size, Presence of Nucleus
Small Size, no nucleus present
***Note: Below are examples of images that may prove to be useful. You will need to download the
images (found as a zip file on the RETwebsite) and save them in a file so they can be opened in ImageJ.
-the images are scaled in micrometers (µm); 1 m = 1x106 µm
***Note: In ImageJ, the symbol for “mu” is recognized by typing “u” instead “µ”.
Cell Images With Approximate Diameters
Image1 - cancer cell – 54µm
Image2 - human egg cell – 122.92µm
Image3 - E. coli – 3.27 µm
Image4 – elodea – 112.38 µm
100 µm
Image5 - human cheek cell – 32.44 µm
Image6 - human sperm cell - 4.66 µm
Image7 - norovirus - .22 µm
Image8 - pollen grain – 26.4 µm
.1 µm
Image9 - protist – 50.62 µm
25 µm
Image10 - coccus bacteria - .196 µm
.3 µm
Image11 – spirulina – 11.68 µm
Image 12 – staphylcoccus – 1.76 µm
Cell Size Module Image Works Cited
http://www.rpgroup.caltech.edu/courses/PBL/size.htm
http://hubpages.com/hub/what-are-the-differences-between-animals-and-plants
http://uanews.org/story/pizza-herb-could-help-curb-foodborne-illness
http://www.nanopartz.com/invitro_imaging_brightfield.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coccus