Lesson: Cell Differentiation: A Computer Analogy Created by: Marianne Dobrovolny More activities at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Marianne-­‐Dobrovolny . Materials: 4 to 5 sets of Computer Cards (4 cards per set), 4 to 5 sets of Cell Cards (4 cards per set), copies of observation sheet and “Know Your Cells” assessment activity, projector and cell differentiation videos (see links below). Note: for management purposes, it may be easiest if you print each set of 4 on a different color of cardstock. Procedure: 1. Give each group of 2 or 3 students an observation sheet and a set of four “computer” cards. 2. Have students make as many observations as possible about the four different computers on the cards. Have them note how the four computers are similar and different. 3. Discuss as a whole group emphasizing the following points: there is both hardware and software on all but one computer, the hardware on each computer is the same and what makes them different is the type of software that is installed on each one, one computer has no software at all, and that they all have different structures (look different). 4. Give students the next set of four “cell” cards. Have them fill in the word cell on the observation sheet in the second column. 5. Repeat set 2 with the new set of cards. 6. Discuss as a whole group emphasizing the following points: each cell looks different, all cells have the same exact genetics or set of genes, each cell has a different epigenetics with different genes turned on and off, and one cell has no epigenetics. 7. Looking at both sets of cards, have students work through the third column on the observation sheet. 8. Discuss how cell differentiation happens and what that means. Use the computer analogy to help students understand what causes cells to differentiate. Explain that an organisms epigeneome is responsible for gene expression. In other words, it is responsible for regulating weather a gene is turned on or off in a certain cell. 9. Show the following videos (especially the last one) to elaborate on what cell differentiation is all about: http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/tdc02.sci.life.stru.different/ http://ns.umich.edu/stemcells/C_030206.html http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNmfGQP_FLo&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_
mode=1&safe=active http://www.teachersdomain.org/asset/biot09_vid_epigenetics/ 10. Use the “Know your Cells” as a formative assessment piece at the end of the lesson. Created by: Marianne Dobrovolny Observations of: Computers Observation of: _______________ As you compare and contrast the different objects in each set, what relationships and patterns do you observe? Put an X next to the statements that are true. ____ All cells that make up an organism have the same genetic material. ____ All genes within a cell are being used to control traits in that cell. ____ Epigenetics is similar to software in a computer. ____ All cells in an organism have the same set of DNA instructions. ____ All cells have the same genes turned on and off. ____ The characteristics of a particular cell are controlled by all of the genes within the set of DNA. ____ The gene that codes for keratin (a protein found in hair) is likely turned on in hair follicle cells but turned off in liver cells. ____ Epigenetics is the same in every cell. ____ Cells with no genes turned off or on are considered stem cells. ____ Cells differentiate (or become a specific type of cell) because they have a different set of DNA than other cells in the organism. ____ Neurons or nerve cells have a different genome (set of DNA) than skin cells. ____ Multicellular organisms have many different types of cells that carry out different jobs/functions within that organism. ____ All multicellular organisms start off as a single cell known as an embryonic stem cell.
Created by: Marianne Dobrovolny Hardware: Software:  Video card  Motherboard  Intel i7 processor 2.8 GHz  80 gb Hard drive 





Hardware:  Operating system: Windows XP  Internet Explore  Word  Excel  PowerPoint  iTunes  Window Media Player  Adobe Acrobat Sound card Ethernet card WiFi card Monitor Mouse Keyboard  Video card  Motherboard  Intel i7 processor 2.8 GHz  80 gb Hard drive  Sound card  Ethernet card  WiFi card  Monitor  Mouse  Keyboard  Video card  Motherboard  Intel i7 processor 2.8 GHz  80 gb Hard drive  Sound card  Ethernet card  WiFi card  Monitor  Mouse  Keyboard  Operating system: Linux  Publisher  PowerPoint  Photoshop  Window Media Player  Solitaire Hardware: Software: Software: Hardware:  Video card  Motherboard  Intel i7 processor 2.8 GHz  80 gb Hard drive  Sound card  Ethernet card  WiFi card  Monitor Created by: Marianne Dobrovolny  Mouse  Keyboard  Operating system: OSx Leopard  iTunes  Firefox  iPhoto  iMovie  Adobe Acrobat  GarageBand  iCalander Software:  None Nerve Cell Genetics: Epigenetics:  DNA -­‐ 40,000 bp  4 chromosome pairs -­‐ Gene A (chromosome 1) -­‐ Gene C (chromosome 1) -­‐ Gene D (chromosome 1) -­‐ Gene F (chromosome 2) -­‐ Gene M (chromosome 2) -­‐ Gene Q (chromosome 3) -­‐ Gene X (chromosome 3) -­‐ Gene T (chromosome 3) 
Gene A -­‐ activated 
Gene C -­‐ activated 
Gene D -­‐ deactivated 
Gene F -­‐ activated 
Gene M -­‐ deactivated 
Gene Q -­‐ activated 
Gene X -­‐ deactivated 
Gene T -­‐ deactivated 
Gene V -­‐ activated 
Gene Z -­‐ activated Genetics:  DNA -­‐ 40,000 bp  4 chromosome pairs Epigenetics:  None -­‐ Gene A (chromosome 1) -­‐ Gene C (chromosome 1) -­‐ Gene D (chromosome 1) -­‐ Gene F (chromosome 2) -­‐ Gene M (chromosome 2) -­‐ Gene Q (chromosome 3) -­‐ Gene X (chromosome 3) -­‐ Gene T (chromosome 3) -­‐ Gene V (chromosome 4) -­‐ Gene V (chromosome 4) -­‐ Gene Z (chromosome 4) -­‐ Gene Z (chromosome 4) Genetics: Epigenetics:  DNA -­‐ 40,000 bp  4 chromosome pairs -­‐ Gene A (chromosome 1) -­‐ Gene C (chromosome 1) -­‐ Gene D (chromosome 1) -­‐ Gene F (chromosome 2) -­‐ Gene M (chromosome 2) -­‐ Gene Q (chromosome 3) -­‐ Gene X (chromosome 3) -­‐ Gene T (chromosome 3) -­‐ Gene V (chromosome 4) -­‐ Gene Z (chromosome 4) Genetics: Epigenetics:  DNA -­‐ 40,000 bp  4 chromosome pairs 
Gene A -­‐ deactivated 
Gene C -­‐ activated 
Gene D -­‐ activated 
Gene F -­‐ deactivated 
Gene M -­‐ deactivated 
Gene Q -­‐ deactivated 
Gene X -­‐ activated 
Gene T -­‐ deactivated 
Gene V -­‐ activated 
Gene Z -­‐ deactivated -­‐ Gene T (chromosome 3) Created by: Marianne Dobrovolny -­‐ Gene V (chromosome 4) -­‐ Gene Z (chromosome 4) -­‐ Gene A (chromosome 1) -­‐ Gene C (chromosome 1) -­‐ Gene D (chromosome 1) -­‐ Gene F (chromosome 2) -­‐ Gene M (chromosome 2) -­‐ Gene Q (chromosome 3) -­‐ Gene X (chromosome 3) 
Gene A -­‐ deactivated 
Gene C -­‐ deactivated 
Gene D -­‐ deactivated 
Gene F -­‐ activated 
Gene M -­‐ activated 
Gene Q -­‐ deactivated 
Gene X -­‐ deactivated 
Gene T -­‐ activated 
Gene V -­‐ activated 
Gene Z -­‐ deactivated