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Voyage Inside the Cell
Teacher’s Guide
31361
A DIVISION OF
FILMS MEDIA GROUP
INTRODUCTION
This Teacher’s Guide provides information to help you get the most out of Voyage Inside the Cell. The contents in
this guide will allow you to prepare your students before using the program and present follow-up activities to
reinforce the program’s key learning points.
Composed entirely of 3-D computer animation, this program follows a hormone on its journey through the body,
where it penetrates a cell’s membrane, reaches the nucleus, and induces mitosis. Cell components such as proteins, enzymes, the endoplasmic reticulum, and cytoplasm are all identified, while a memorable depiction of cell
division deftly captures the awesome yet alien nature of cellular reproduction.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After viewing the program, students will…
● Know the structures and functions of different types of cell parts and the functions they perform.
● Know that the nucleus is the repository for genetic information in plant and animal cells.
● Describe how cells divide to increase their numbers through a process of mitosis, which results in two
daughter cells with identical sets of chromosomes.
● Know the chemical and structural properties of DNA and its role in specifying the characteristics of an
organism.
EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS
National Standards
This program correlates with the National Science Education Standards developed by the National Academy of
Sciences and Project 2061 Benchmarks for Science Literacy from the American Association for the Advancement
of Science. The content has been aligned with the following educational standards and benchmarks from these
organizations.
● Understand structure and function in living systems.
● Understand the cell.
● Understand diversity and adaptations of organisms.
● Understand biological evolution.
● Understand reproduction and heredity.
● Understand the molecular basis of heredity.
● Understand that all living things are composed of cells, from just one to many millions, whose details usually
are visible only through a microscope. Different body tissues and organs are made up of different kinds of
cells. The cells in similar tissues and organs in other animals are similar to those in human beings but differ
somewhat from cells found in plants.
● Understand that every cell is covered by a membrane that controls what can enter and leave the cell. In all but
quite primitive cells, a complex network of proteins provides organization and shape and, for animal cells,
movement.
● Understand that cells repeatedly divide to make more cells for growth and repair. Various organs and tissues
function to serve the needs of cells for food, air, and waste removal.
● Understand that within every cell are specialized parts for the transport of materials, energy transfer, protein
building, waste disposal, information feedback, and even movement. In addition, most cells in multi-cellular
organisms perform some special functions that others do not.
● Understand that the work of the cell is carried out by the many different types of molecules it assembles—
mostly proteins. Protein molecules are long, usually folded chains made from 20 different kinds of amino-acid
molecules. The function of each protein molecule depends on its specific sequence of amino acids and the
shape the chain takes is a consequence of attractions between the chain’s parts.
● Understand that about two thirds of the weight of cells is accounted for by water, which gives cells many of
their properties.
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● Understand that a living cell is composed of a small number of chemical elements mainly carbon, hydrogen,
nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur. Carbon atoms can easily bond to several other carbon atoms in
chains and rings to form large and complex molecules.
Reprinted with permission from National Science Education Standards © 1999 by the National Academy of Sciences, courtesy of the National
Academies Press, Washington, D.C.
From BENCHMARKS FOR SCIENCE LITERACY by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, copyright 1993 by the American
Association for the Advancement of Science. Used by permission of Oxford University Press, Inc. Please note: judgments about the alignment
of content presented here with the learning goals in BENCHMARKS FOR SCIENCE LITERACY are those of the author and do not represent the
opinion or endorsement of the AAAS or Oxford University Press, Inc.
English Language Arts Standards
The activities in this Teacher’s Guide were created in compliance with the following National Standards for the
English Language Arts from the National Council of Teachers of English.
● Use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment,
persuasion, and the exchange of information).
● Adjust their use of spoken, written, and visual language (e.g., conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate
effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.
● Use a variety of technological and information resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, video)
to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.
● Conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. They
gather, evaluate, and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and nonprint texts, artifacts, people)
to communicate their discoveries.
Standards for the English Language Arts, by the International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English, copyright
1996 by the International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English. Reprinted with permission.
Technology Standards
The activities in this Teacher’s Guide were created in compliance with the following National Education
Technology Standards from the National Education Technology Standards Project.
● Proficient in the use of technology.
● Use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity.
● Use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources.
The National Education Technology Standards reprinted with permission from the International Society of Technology Education.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
This program introduces students to cells and their properties, including the shapes and sizes of cells, functions
of cells, eukaryotes and prokaryotes, the organization of cells, parts of the cell and their functions, respiration,
chromosomes and DNA, and the cell as the basic unit of life.
MAIN TOPIC AREAS
Topic 1: Cell Organelles
The program begins a discussion of cell organelles by following the animated journey of a hormone through the
cell membrane. The viewer sees how the hormone pairs with a protein receptor in order to trigger cell activity.
Topic 2: DNA
The structure and function of DNA are illustrated in this section of the video. The function of genes, amino acids,
and RNA is also detailed.
Topic 3: Cell Reproduction—Mitosis
Building on the explanation of DNA transcription, the program expands into the replication of chromosomes, the
first stage of mitosis. A microscopic look at the intricate process of mitosis follows and concludes the program.
FAST FACTS
● An average plant cell is about three times larger than an animal cell.
● The average life span for a stomach cell is two days; a brain cell can live for a lifetime.
● There are about 100,000 different genes in the nucleus of a cell.
● Similar to the way the English language uses twenty-six letters to form thousands of words, DNA strands use
four different nucleotides, or ”letters,” to form “words,” or chains of information.
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● The unfertilized ostrich egg is the world’s largest cell.
● The human brain is made up of about one trillion nerve cells.
● An average person sheds 40 pounds of skin cells over a lifetime.
● Direct sunlight causes the lysosomes in skin cells to burst. The enzymes released kill the cells of the epidermis
and lead to the blistering and peeling experienced with sunburn.
● Researchers are attempting to prevent animal extinctions by collecting and freezing genetic material from
endangered animal species.
● Human Genome Project researchers have discovered that all humans are 99.8% genetically identical.
● Chromosomes carried by the male sperm determine whether an embryo will develop into a male or female
organism.
● Lysosomes are responsible for the loss of a tadpole’s tail during metamorphosis. They digest the tail and make
the materials used to construct parts of the new frog.
● There are over two hundred different types of cells in the human body.
VOCABULARY TERMS
cell: The fundamental unit that makes up all organisms on earth.
cell membrane: Also called the plasma membrane. The cell membrane regulates the flow of materials into and
out of the cell.
chromosomes: Long, thread-like bodies composed of DNA and protein, found in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells.
They contain the genes that contain the code for all the organism’s proteins.
cytoskeleton: The transparent network of protein filaments that maintains the cell’s shape, holds organelles in
place, and moves parts of the cell around if needed.
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid): The chemical that makes up all genes, and therefore chromosomes.
endoplasmic reticulum (ER): A folded membrane that moves materials around in the cell.
evolution: Change in the genetic composition of a population during successive generations, as a result of
natural selection acting on the genetic variation among individuals, and resulting in the development of new
species.
gene: A hereditary unit consisting of a sequence of DNA that occupies a specific location on a chromosome and
determines a particular characteristic in an organism. Genes undergo mutation when their DNA sequence
changes.
golgi body (golgi apparatus): Package and move proteins to the outside of the cell.
lysosome: Contains enzymes that digest waste and worn-out cell parts.
mitochondria: Organelles where food molecules are broken down and energy is released.
mitosis: The process in cell division by which the nucleus divides, typically consisting of five stages—interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase—and normally resulting in two new nuclei, each of which
contains a complete copy of the parental chromosomes. Also called karyokinesis.
nucleus: Control center of the cell where DNA is stored.
organelle: One of the structures found in the cell, which perform a function of the cell.
RNA (ribonucleic acid): The chemical that “copies” the information from the DNA and carries it to the
ribosomes to be translated into protein.
ribosome: The site of protein synthesis, where the RNA is translated into protein.
PRE-PROGRAM DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What is a hormone?
2. What do hormones do?
3. What is DNA and what does it do for us?
4. How do your cells know when to divide?
5. Do all of the cells in your body contain the same chromosomes?
6. All living creatures inherit traits from their ancestors. What traits have you inherited from your parents; from
your grandparents? Do you share any similar traits with your brothers, sisters, or cousins?
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POST-PROGRAM DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What traits do genes determine? What characteristics of an organism do genes not determine?
2. Do all organisms have the same number of chromosomes?
3. What happens if the RNA does not transcribe the DNA correctly?
4. How can a single fertilized egg cell with only one set of chromosomes grow into a human with many billions
of cells?
5. According to Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, the vast and diverse number of species living on earth
today can be attributed to mutation, adaptation, and survival of the fittest. What evidence can we see in the
natural world that might support this theory?
6. What causes genetic diseases like Down Syndrome and Sickle Cell Anemia?
GROUP ACTIVITIES
Copying Reproduction
Working in small groups, investigate current events or research regarding cell reproduction such as reproductive
or therapeutic cloning, gene therapy, genetic engineering, etc., and present your findings to the class in an oral
presentation and one-page summary report.
Then, conduct a group debate on the issue in order to explore the pros and cons of the technology. What good
might come out of it? What adverse effects are possible? What moral and/or religious beliefs conflict with or
support this technology?
DNA in 3-D
Create a poster or 3-D model that illustrates the structure of DNA, showing the links between A and T, and C
and G.
INDIVIDUAL STUDENT PROJECTS
History in the Cell Making
Research a historical discovery or theory related to cell biology or living organisms (evolution, classification of
organisms, DNA, microorganisms, etc.). Create a poster to illustrate your findings.
Cell Vision
Use household items such as clay, cardboard, yarn, etc., to construct a model of the phases of mitosis. Show
how and when chromosomes are copied, separated, and transported to form two new nuclei.
What Type of Family Tree Are You?
Use the Internet or the library to learn about and explore the principles of Mendelian genetics. Highlight the
principles of heredity by charting the physical traits of your parents, grandparents, and other relatives. Which
traits are dominant? Which are recessive? Which characteristics appear to be inherited vs. acquired?
Suggested sources:
Basic Principles of Genetics: An Introduction to Mendelian Genetics
http://anthro.palomar.edu/mendel/default.htm
The Cartoon Guide to Genetics by Larry Gonick, Mark Wheelis (Contributor). Harper Perennial, 1991.
ISBN: 0062730991.
INTERNET ACTIVITIES
Blame It on Hormones
Use the Internet to find out how hormones affect the body. Why do we need hormones? What do they do? What
types of artificial hormones exist? How do steroids affect the body, positively or negatively? What is Hormone
Replacement Therapy?
The Problem with Genes
Research a genetic disease such as Down Syndrome or cystic fibrosis. What are the symptoms of the disease?
What is known about the causes? What treatments are currently available? What kinds of research may affect
future therapies?
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Proteins for Sale
Look up a list of the twenty essential amino acids found in proteins. Then, visit an online pharmacy or health
food site to see how many amino acids you can find for sale. What are these products advertised as being able
to do?
The Numbers Game
Humans have 46 chromosomes in our cells. Find out the chromosome number of some other animals, plants,
and/or microorganisms, and display them in a chart.
ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS
Q: Chromosomes are made up of DNA molecules. (True or False)
A: True
Feedback: The chromosomes store the cell’s genetic information.
Q: Hormones bind with ___________ before triggering cell growth, movement, division, or death.
(a) DNA
(b) genes
(c) protein receptors
(d) other hormones
A: (c) protein receptors
Feedback: Hormones pair with protein receptors to trigger cell activity.
Q: The ________________ is a network of tubes in the cytoplasm, which release calcium to trigger cell activity.
(a) mitochondria
(b) nucleus
(c) centrosome
(d) endoplasmic reticulum
A: (d) endoplasmic reticulum
Feedback: The endoplasmic reticulum moves molecules around in the cell, which triggers cell activity.
Q: How many different genes can exist in the nucleus of a cell?
(a) 100,000
(b) 10,000
(c) 1,000,000
(d) 1,000
A: (a) 100,000
Feedback: Over 100,000 different genes are found in the nucleus of a cell.
Q: Some molecules slip through the cell membrane, while others cannot. (True or False)
A: True
Feedback: The cell membrane acts as a filter.
Q: Explain the process of mitosis.
Answer/Feedback: May include chromosome replication, division of the centrosome, microtubule alignment of
the chromosome pairs, division of the chromosome pairs, and formation of two separate, but identical daughter
cells. The five stages of mitosis include interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.
Q: Mitosis produces two daughter cells, which _______________________.
(a) contain identical sets of chromosomes
(b) are similar in genetic makeup
(c) will not be able to divide again
(d) will remain bound together at the cell membrane to form tissue
A: (a) contain identical sets of chromosomes
Feedback: Mitosis produces two cells with identical sets of chromosomes.
Q: A gene is a portion of a chromosome that codes for a single protein. (True or False)
A: True
Feedback: Genes determine the physical characteristics of an organism.
Q: Complete organisms grow by repeated cell division called ______________.
(a) photosynthesis
(b) mitosis
(c) respiration
(d) mitochondria
A: (b) mitosis
Feedback: Mitosis creates two identical daughter cells with a complete set of chromosomes.
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Q: The chromosomes in the _________ make copies of themselves during mitosis.
(a) vacuole
(b) gene pool
(c) nucleus
(d) cytoplasm
A: (c) nucleus
Feedback: Chromosomes are contained in the nucleus of the cell.
Q: DNA transcribes genetic information and carries it out into the cytoplasm, where proteins are made.
(True or False)
A: False
Feedback: RNA copies genetic information from the DNA to be used during protein synthesis.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Communication Technology Lab of Michigan State University “Microbe Zoo”
www.commtechlab.msu.edu
The Franklin Institute Online: Living Things
www.fi.edu/tfi/units/life
Basic Principles of Genetics: An Introduction to Mendelian Genetics
http://anthro.palomar.edu/mendel/default.htm
Human Genome Project Information
www.ornl.gov/TechResources/Human_Genome/home.html
Cells alive!
www.cellsalive.com
PUBLICATIONS
The Cartoon Guide to Genetics by Larry Gonick, Mark Wheelis (Contributor). Harper Perennial, 1991.
ISBN: 0062730991
Exploring The Way Life Works: The Science of Biology by Mahlon B. Hoagland, Bert Dodson, Judith Hauck.
Jones & Bartlett Pub., 2001. ISBN: 076371688X
The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin. Grammercy, 1998. ISBN: 0517123207
The Way Life Works by Mahlon Hoagland and Bert Dodson. Times Books, 1995. ISBN: 0812920201
OTHER RESOURCES
Cells—The Inside and Out
These information-rich programs take an entertaining route in examining both the inner workings of the cell and
the ways intercellular reactions occur. With extremely clear graphics and a witty narrative, the whole array of
cellular organelles is presented, as well as the structure and function of the cell membrane. 2-part series, 29-33
minutes each. © 2002
Order #: 30836, www.cambridgeeducational.com, 1-800-468-4227
Cells: The Building Blocks of Life
This video takes a close-up look at the lowest common denominator of all life: the cell. It illustrates essential
cellular processes—transportation of materials, communication, energy transfer, protein-building, waste disposal, movement, and the all-important mitosis and meiosis—as well as key cellular landmarks like the nucleus,
ribosomes, mitochondria, the Golgi complex, the endoplasmic reticulum, and lysosomes. Special attention is
given to recent advances in biotechnology. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online. Correlates
to National Academy of Sciences National Science Education Standards and the American Association for the
Advancement of Science Benchmarks for Science Literacy. A Cambridge Educational Production.
(16 minutes) © 2005
Order #: 33835, www.cambridgeeducational.com, 1-800-468-4227
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Cells, Tissues, and Skin
After an introductory segment on cell characteristics, this program discusses the way human body cells function
and combine into the structures that sustain life. Topics include membrane permeability and the processes of
passive and active transport; cytoplasm, with its cytosol, organelles, and inclusions; the constituent parts of the
nucleus and the stages and processes of the cell cycle; the four basic tissue types; and the skin, the body’s
largest organ. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online. A Films for the Humanities & Sciences
Production. A part of the series The Human Body: How It Works. (22 minutes) © 2009
Order #: 39505, www.cambridgeeducational.com, 1-800-468-4227
The World of Living Organisms
Developed to increase students’ understanding of biological concepts, structures, and processes, this 10-part
series covers such topics as cell structure and function; transportation in cells; cells and energy; cell growth,
repair, and reproduction; sexual reproduction; viruses and bacteria; bacterial growth and disease; plant systems
and families; roots and stems; and seeds and germination. Each of the programs clarifies the theories and
concepts with lab demonstrations, interviews with experts, and real-life biological applications in industry
and science.
• Examines plant and animal life at the cellular or microscopic level.
• Demonstrates the application of scientific knowledge in solving global problems.
• Interviews with experts reveal the interdependence of science, technology, and society.
(14 minutes each) © 1995
Order #: 6108, www.cambridgeeducational.com, 1-800-468-4227
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