Cell Analogy to Hospitals
By: Vickie Le
4th Hr
Oct. 16, 2015
Ribosomes
Tiny, dark bodies made
of proteins and
ribosomal RNA that
manufacture proteins
that function in the
cytoplasm.
Why?
Ribosomes are similar to the actions of doctors.
Doctors work to take care of their patients and
send them off healthy like ribosomes
manufacturing proteins that would be sent off to
the cytoplasm.
What would happen if this organelle is not functioning?
Proteins would not be created and the cell will
eventually fall into chaos because of the lack of
ribosomes creating proteins.
Plasma Membrane
Encloses and protects
the cell from outer
surroundings. It selects
needed substances like
oxygen and nutrients
into the cell while gets rid
of wastes from the
interior of the cell.
Why?
The plasma membrane is analogous to how a
hospital functions. Like how the plasma
membrane acts a selective barrier, the hospital
welcomes sick patients inside and gets rid of
healthy patients.
What would happen if this organelle is not functioning?
No protective barrier would lead to the constant
moving of materials in and out of the cell and
the cell won’t be able to protect itself from
outside surroundings. Leading to
disorganization and harm to the cell.
Chromosomes
Located within the
nucleus, it carries
genetic info and is
sent off to different
organelles for
functions to occur.
Why?
Chromosomes consist of chromatin
which carry DNA and spreads the
genetic info to other parts of the cell.
Similarly, doctors spread information
collected about patients to other doctors.
What would happen if this organelle is not functioning?
No chromosomes means no genetic
information available for the cell. If there's no
genetic information, the cell organelles don’t
know what functions to do and can’t maintain
homeostasis of the cell.
Rough Endoplasmic
Reticulum
System of fluid filled
tubules, canals that coil
and twist through the
cytoplasm with ribosomes
attached like studs. It
makes and exports
proteins to different areas
of the cell.
Why?
The Rough ER creates and moves proteins to
different parts to the cell like how the beds of
the hospital help transfer patients from one
location in the hospital to another location in
hospital.
What would happen if this organelle is not functioning?
Because the necessary transfer of proteins
can’t occur, it will lead to the destruction of
organelles. The organism won’t able to function
properly because of the lack of transferred
proteins to different areas of the cells.
Smooth Endoplasmic
Reticulum
System of fluid filled
tubules, canals that are
twisted and plays a role
in lipid metabolism and
detoxification of drugs
and pesticides.
Why?
The smooth ER breaks down lipids and detoxifies
toxic substances like how the IV bags in a hospital
are used to help the rehydration of patients.
What would happen if this organelle is not functioning?
If the smooth ER can no longer function,
toxic substances and lipids will roam
inside the cell and will interfere with the
functions of other organelles, causing
chaos.
Golgi Apparatus
Flattened
membranous sacs
with tiny vesicles that
are the “traffic director”
for cellular proteins. It
modifies and
packages proteins.
Secretary vesicles are
made at it’s swollen
ends.
Why?
The Golgi apparatus acts as the “traffic director”
by modifying and packaging proteins in order to
send them to other parts of the cell. Similarly,
the nurses in a hospital makes sure their
patients are ready for moving from one room to
another depending on their condition.
What would happen if this organelle is not functioning?
Proteins won’t be ready for use because it can’t
be modified and packaged properly by the Golgi
apparatus. The organism won’t be able to carry
out the finalization of cellular proteins and use
them.
Nucleus
Consists of most of
the genetic material in
eukaryotic cells.
Contains nucleoli and
consists of nuclear
pores for the transfer
of materials.
Why?
Like how the nucleus holds all the genetic
information of the cell and transfers the
information out, the staff of the hospital all have
medical knowledge and work to send info to
other staff with orders needed to be done.
What would happen if this organelle is not functioning?
The entire cell will no longer be able to survive
because it has no more genetic material for the
functions to occur and it may affect the
nucleolus it protects within.
Nucleolus
Creates ribosomes
and sends them
throughout the cell
through nuclear
pores.
nucleolus
The nucleolus creates ribosomes that will
soon be either floating freely throughout
the cell or being made into proteins. Like
the nucleolus, the kitchen and restaurants
of the hospital send cooked food and raw
fruits to their patients.
nucleolus
What would happen if this organelle is not functioning?
Ribosomes won’t be made and protein synthesis
wouldn’t occur either. The cell wont be able to
provide the organism necessary proteins.
Vesicle
Transports materials
and helps Golgi
apparatus function.
Why?
Like the elevators of a hospital transferring
patients and doctors from one floor to
another conveniently, vesicles transport
materials and help the Golgi apparatus
work.
What would happen if this organelle is not functioning?
The Golgi apparatus wouldn’t be able to do its
function because of the need of transport
vesicles. The transportation of materials would
be more difficult without vesicles.
Vacuoles
Vesicles found in plants
that digests, storages,
acts as a waste disposal,
balances water, influences
cell growth, and protects.
Why?
Vacuoles digests, storages, balances
water, etc. like how the human body of
patients work hard to improve the overall
health of themselves.
What would happen if this organelle is not functioning?
Functionless vacuoles would result in an
unbalanced homeostasis of the plant cell. The
cell will eventually not be able to carry out
functions regularly.
Lysosomes
Different sized
membranous “bags” that
are filled with digestive
enzymes. It works to digest
worn out/non-usuable cell
structures and
unnecessary substances in
the cell.
Why?
Lysosomes digest no longer needed
substances and structures like how the
trash cans of a hospital gets rid of waste
used by patients and staff.
What would happen if this organelle is not functioning?
The cell without lysosomes will result in
wastes of old cell parts and unneeded
substances inside the cell. The cell will
have to withstand homeostasis with
wastes freely moving in the cell.
Mitochondria
Sausage-like organelles
that continuously
change shape. It
supplies ATP and are
the “powerhouses” of
the cell.
Mitochondria supply all the energy the
cell needs to sustain life like how the
generator of a hospital is needed for
all the electricity used.
What would happen if this organelle is not functioning?
The energy from the mitochondria will no longer
be supplied and will result in the entire cell
destructed because energy is necessary for the
organelles to function.
Chloroplasts
Plays an important part in
photosynthesis by
capturing light and
transferring it to useable
energy by the cell.
Why?
Chloroplasts act in photosynthesis and
create energy for plant cells like how
food for a patient goes through the
digestive system and helps the patients
get useable energy.
What would happen if this organelle is not functioning?
Photosynthesis would not be able to occur and
the plant will eventually wither and die because no
energy is being provided to the plant.
Cytoskeleton
Network of protein
structures throughout
cytoplasm that acts as
the “bones and
muscles” of the cell. It
shapes the cell provides
support to other
organelles and provides
machinery for functions.
Why?
The cytoskeleton shapes and provides
support for other organelles and provides the
machinery for functions like how the building
of the hospital promotes good health of the
patients by providing spacious rooms.
What would happen if this organelle is not functioning?
Some functions wont be carried out by
organelles because the cytoskeleton can no
longer provide the necessary machinery. The
overall structure of the cell will be chaotic
because of lack of organization and support.
Cytosol
Apart of the inner
cytoplasm that holds
the organelles in the
cell in place and allows
easy transfer of
materials.
The cytosol of a cell holds all the
organelles and structures
together while allowing
necessary substances filter
through. Similarly, the spacious
building of the spacious rooms of
the hospital provide a cozy and
safe environments with
necessary medical equipment.
What would happen if this organelle is not functioning?
The other organelles won’t be held in place
and this may cause the cluttering and clashing
of the organelles together. The functions of the
cell will have more difficulty of being organized
and having materials easily going through.