Name: ______________________________________
Date:__________
Period: ______
/88
Cell Scenarios Lab
Background: There are many structures that are vital to cells. These structures help them
with the day-to-day “chores” inside a cell, when it comes time to reproduce, and generally
help them stay alive! Some structures are present in both prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic
cells, while the membrane-bound organelles are present only in animal and plant cells. Each
structure or organelle has a very specific job within the cell and, without them, things would
definitely not work as they should!
Instructions: Your lab group will make its way through the lab, visiting each station. When you
arrive at a new station, you will find a scenario describing a unique cellular “situation.” In
some scenarios the cells are missing an important organelle. In others, different cells are to be
compared and contrasted. Some require you to imagine “what if” and in others you may need
your notes. You may visit the scenarios in any order, although no more than one team should
be at one location.
Scenario #1
A. What cell organelle must be missing from your cell? ___________________________
B. What does this organelle contain that helps it do its job within the cell?
_______________________________
C. Provide a common name for the role that this organelle plays in the cell.
_______________________________
Scenario #2
A. What is this organelle? ____________________________
B. What is its function of this organelle? _________________________________________
C. Provide a common name for the role that this organelle plays in the cell.
________________________________
D. Why do muscle cells contain a large number of these organelles?
______________________________________________________________________
Scenario #3
A. Which cell organelle is missing? ____________________________
B. Describe the effect on the cell if this organelle was not present.
______________________________________________________________________
C. How does this organelle differ between plant and animal cells?
______________________________________________________________________
Scenario #4
A. What two structures must you be missing? _____________________________________
B. Draw a picture of a prokaryotic cell in the space below, including the “missing” structures,
and be sure to label them!
Scenario #5
A. What cell organelle is missing? ______________________________________
B. Identify the two versions of this type of organelle. ______________________________
C. Explain the difference between the two types of this organelle.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Scenario #6
A. Identify the type of molecule that you cannot make in this cell. _____________________
B. What cell part must be the missing from this cell? ______________________
C. Some of these cell parts are described as being “free” while others are described as being
“attached” in the cell. Explain why these descriptions are used.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Scenario #7
Cell Type
Explain how you knew what type of cell it
was….what features are unique to each cell?
Scenario #8
A. Which organelle are you missing? _______________________________
B. What type of eukaryotic cells are you if you are missing this organelle?
______________________
C. What process are you no longer able to carry out without this organelle?
______________________
D. Finally, if this organelle disappeared from all cells on the Earth, what affect would that have
on an ecosystem? ___________________________________________________________
Scenario #9
A. What is the missing organelle? ____________________________________
B. Explain the role of this organelle in your cells.
________________________________________________________________________
C. Provide a common name for the role of this organelle. _____________________________
Scenario #10
Create a Venn diagram that compares prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Write the letters that
match the terms/phrases below in the correct location of the Venn diagram.
A. mitochondria
B. nucleus
C. cell membrane
D. lysosome
E. nucleoid region
F. ER and Golgi
G. ribosomes
H. bacteria
Prokaryotic
J. plant/animal/fungi/protist
K. cytoplasm
Eukaryotic
Scenario #11
A. Which cell structure is not working as it should? __________________________________
B. What two main molecules make up this cell feature?
___________________________________________________________
C. In the space below, draw the structure of this organelle labeling the molecules above.
Scenario #12
A. What cell structure is missing? _______________________________
B. Identify the two types of molecules that make up this structure.
_______________________________________________________________________