Six Example Cell Engineering Cell Type Assignments
1. Your cell: an animal cell
Your cell’s primary function: produce, modify, and release a protein
Hint: increasing the surface area of the cell could increase the amount of exocytosis that can
occur
Possible parts list: Ribosomes, Golgi Apparatus, Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum, Smooth
Endoplasmic Reticulum, Nucleus, Centrioles, Chloroplasts, Mitochondria, Lysosomes,
Cytoskeleton, Vacuoles, Vesicles, Flagella, Cilia, Microvilli, Cell Membrane, Cell Wall,
Cytoplasm, Lysosomes, Peroxisomes.
2. Your cell: an animal cell
Your cell’s primary function: convert organic molecules to lipids and store for future use
Hint: keep in mind what you have learned about the properties of lipids and imagine how
those types of molecules could be safely stored in the aqueous environment of the cell.
Possible parts list: Ribosomes, Golgi Apparatus, Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum, Smooth
Endoplasmic Reticulum, Nucleus, Centrioles, Chloroplasts, Mitochondria, Lysosomes,
Cytoskeleton, Vacuoles, Vesicles, Flagella, Cilia, Microvilli, Cell Membrane, Cell Wall,
Cytoplasm, Lysosomes, Peroxisomes.
3. Your cell: a plant cell
Your cell’s primary function: transport of sugar from leaves to other parts of the plant.
Hint: these cells compose the veins of the leaves and their function is primarily mediated by
cell structure.
Possible parts list: Ribosomes, Golgi Apparatus, Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum, Smooth
Endoplasmic Reticulum, Nucleus, Centrioles, Chloroplasts, Mitochondria, Lysosomes,
Cytoskeleton, Vacuoles, Vesicles, Flagella, Cilia, Microvilli, Cell Membrane, Cell Wall,
Cytoplasm, Lysosomes, Peroxisomes.
4. Your cell: an animal cell
Your cell’s primary function: delivery of oxygen to all cells in the body
Hint: A cell with this job must be able to travel through small capillaries in the circulatory
system and have a surface area that supports efficient oxygen transfer.
Possible parts list: Ribosomes, Golgi Apparatus, Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum, Smooth
Endoplasmic Reticulum, Nucleus, Centrioles, Chloroplasts, Mitochondria, Lysosomes,
Cytoskeleton, Vacuoles, Vesicles, Flagella, Cilia, Microvilli, Cell Membrane, Cell Wall,
Cytoplasm, Lysosomes, Peroxisomes
5. Your cell: a plant cell.
Your cell’s primary function: produce, modify, and release oil on the surface of the leaf.
Hint: increasing the surface area of the cell could increase the amount of oil that can be
released.
Possible parts list: Ribosomes, Golgi Apparatus, Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum, Smooth
Endoplasmic Reticulum, Nucleus, Centrioles, Chloroplasts, Mitochondria, Lysosomes,
Cytoskeleton, Vacuoles, Vesicles, Flagella, Cilia, Microvilli, Cell Membrane, Cell Wall,
Cytoplasm, Lysosomes, Peroxisomes.
6. Your cell: a plant cell
Your cell’s primary function: protect the underlying cells of the leaf and allow for the
diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide so that photosynthesis can occur
Hint: remember the different factors that affect the rate of diffusion
Possible parts list: Ribosomes, Golgi Apparatus, Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum, Smooth
Endoplasmic Reticulum, Nucleus, Centrioles, Chloroplasts, Mitochondria, Lysosomes,
Cytoskeleton, Vacuoles, Vesicles, Flagella, Cilia, Microvilli, Cell Membrane, Cell Wall,
Cytoplasm, Lysosomes, Peroxisomes.