ANIMAL CELL COMPARED TO A CITY

vacuole- City food bank

• The function of a vacuole in both plants and animal cells are to store energy for the cell and release energy when the cell needs it. A close analogy of this would be the city food bank, which stores food for anyone in the city who needs it and distributes it to anyone who needs food.

Endoplasmic Reticulum- Road network

• The endoplasmic reticulum is a complex membrane-based network of sac-like structures held together in the cytoplasm which transport molecules and particles throughout the cell using “truck-like” carriers called Goigi apparatuses. The best analogy for this would be the road network, which transports motor vehicles and humans around the town.

Goigi apparatuses = Trucks.

• Goigi apparatuses are small “truck-like” carriers which move particles and molecules for the cell, acting as transportation for the cell in the endoplasmic recticulum. Trucks are an excellent example of this in real life as trucks move materials and goods around the town and provide the medium for input and output to the cell

Chromosomes = Law book.

• Chromosomes are genetic instructions embedded in DNA that regulate the cell's growth and procedures and dictate the functionality of the cell. The law book and common law (also known as by laws) dictate what is permitted in the cell and what is not permitted in the cell.

Nucleolus = Mayor's office.

• The nucleolus controls the executive activity within the nucleus of the cell and contains the chromosomes and the DNA of the cell. This can be compared to the mayor of the city who controls and has the power to veto the rest of the politicians and executives in the City Hall.

Nucleus = City Hall.

• The nucleus controls the cell activities and contains the nucleolus and the DNA which dictates cell activities and provides regulations to the cell. This is functionally equivalent to the City Hall which is responsible for execution of the law

Ribosomes = Boxes of bricks.

• Ribosomes are one of the major particle groups that are transported on goigi apparatuses which in turn are transported around the cell with the endoplasmic reticulum, which are one of the major building blocks of the city. This can be compared to boxes which are groups of bricks are are the major building blocks of the city.

Cell membrane = Border control.

• he cell membrane controls all input-output interactions of the cell and dictates what particles may enter and what particles may exit through a process called selective permeability. This can be compared to border control officials which dictate which people are authorized to enter or exit the city.

Cell wall = Political city boundary.

• The cell wall provides the city with a solid framework that holds the cell together and defines what part of the cell is inside and what part is outside. Surrounds the cell membrane and holds it together. This can be compared to the political city boundary which surround border control officials and hold the "city" together.

Cytoplasm = Open land.

• The cytoplasm is a watery liquid that surrounds the cell. It can be compared open spaces in the city which haven't been developed yet.

Vesicles = Local food banks.

• Vesicles, just like their larger counterpart vacuole, store energy and liquids for use by the cell when needed. Vesicles function identically to the vacuole with the exception that there are more than one of them in a cell and that they store less energy than the vesicles.

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