CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology
Web based tools developed to help
students understand cell ultra-structure
Lisa Russell, Jo Forrester and Phil
Bishop
Department of Zoology
University of Otago
Frog cell at Anaphase
CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology
Cell ultra-structure

Develop the students capacity to infer function of
different cell types based on their recognition of
constituent organelles.
Images Katrin Geist and Richard Easingwood
CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology
Challenges facing large, first
year biology classes:
Evident that students struggle to
make the link between:
3-d structure of organs, tissues
and cellular components from
lectures

2-d images that they obtain from
light and electron micrographs

CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology
Challenges facing large, first
year biology classes:

Textbook examples of stylised ‘typical’ cells often
represent an oversimplification of real life images
students will view during the course.
CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology
Challenges facing large, first
year biology classes:
Only a very limited time and resources to provide students
with hands-on practical experience with microscopy
limited to light microscopy

Viewing electron micrographs (TEM and SEM) restricted:

paper exercises or as web-based activities

free online software available has limitations
(Image J and Zoomify)
CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology
Image J
Open source program
 Wide range of tools,
including a calibration tool
Limitations:
 not user friendly
 requires detailed step by
step instructions to calibrate
image, annotate image etc.
 students must download
program

x=1.40, y=0.627, angle=-131.56, length = 5.30
CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology
Zoomify


freeware package
high resolution imaging
Limitations of package:
 unable to calibrate or
calculate scale
 unable to add annotations
or a key
CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology
Project
Develop a web-based tool to complement guided
learning exercises that investigate:
 how cell ultra-structure is imaged (microscopy
and scale)
 structure and function of common organelles
 cell diversity and ultra-structural differences
(simple versus specialised cells)
CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology
Project
Collaborative project:
 Educational Media, Higher Education
Development Centre (Peter Vlugter
and Ayelet Cohen)
 Otago Centre for Electron
Microscopy (OCEM) in particular Mr
Richard Easingwood and Miss Katrin
Geist
Funded by a CALT (Committee for the Advancement
of Learning and Teaching) e-learning grant
CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology
Project
o Development of a range of high resolution EM images from a
range of cell types: ‘simple cells’ (plant and animal cells) and
specialised cells (secretory and absorptive)
CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology
Ideal features of an image
viewer:




Zoom and panning tool
Annotation tool
Interactive key
Measuring tool (linear and relative area)
CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology
Zoom and panning tool
CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology
Annotation tool
Nucleus
Dark stained areas –
heterochromatin
light areas - euchromatin
CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology
Interactive key
CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology
Linear measuring tool
CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology
Measuring area
CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology
Grid tool
CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology
Application of the image viewer:

Image viewer is now used in three first year courses
Biology 112 (Introduction to animal biology)
 Utilized in a practical laboratory
 Proportion of red muscle present within a cross section of
eel tissue subjected to differing hormonal treatments
CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology


Image viewer is now freely available throughout
the university as a plug-in to UniTube (file sharing
system, wide range of file types including images,
videos and audio files).
Once uploaded the UniTube URL can be shared or
embed it into Blackboard or any other website.
CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology
‘Build a cell’ game

Online interactive game designed to test students
ability to link cell structure with function.
CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology
‘Build a cell’ game

Four levels - in each level they have to essentially
build the specified cell from a range of cell
components.
o simple plant and animal cell, specialised
secretory and absorptive cells.
CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology
‘Build a cell’ game
To progress through each level:
o correct cell components in roughly the correct
frequency (1, 2-10 or extensive)
o 3 attempts at each level, if incorrect they have
to start the game again.
CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology
Ongoing developments
Image viewer
 Develop the annotation tool further
o allow students to annotate and save images for
reviewing
o potential for assessment
Build a cell game
 developing specific feedback