NYC Cell Analogy By: Ellery Cupelis and Paige Stearn

Mitochondria

Analogy: The mitochondria is like a power plant such at the Indian Point Energy Center in New York because they both generate energy for the cell/city to use.

Function: The mitochondria generates energy (ATP) in plant and animal cells.

Ribosomes Function: Ribosomes build proteins in plant and animal cells.

Analogy: Ribosomes are like a factory because they both produce and create different items. Ribosomes produce proteins and factories produce goods.

Nucleus Function: The nucleus contains DNA and is the center of the cell. The nucleus is present in both plant and animal cells.

Analogy: The Nucleus is like Times Square because they are both in the center of the cell/city. Also information is flowing through both at all times.

Endoplasmic Reticulum Function: The endoplasmic reticulum connects organelles and forms tubes in cells. The endoplasmic reticulum is in plant and animal cells. !Analogy: The endoplasmic reticulum is like the roads and streets of NYC because both connect different areas of the city/cell.

Golgi ApparatusFunction: The golgi apparatus packages macromolecules for delivery in plant and animal cells.

!Analogy: The golgi apparatus is like the UPS store because they both package items for delivery.

Centrioles Function: The centrioles is used for cell reproduction in animal cells. !Analogy: The centrioles are like a hospital because new organisms are created from previous organisms.

Plasma/ Cell Membrane Function: The plasma/cell membrane controls passage of materials in and out of plant and animal cells. !Analogy: The cell membrane is like the toll booths surrounding New York City because only certain materials/people are allowed in and out.

Lysosomes Function: The lysosomes break down macromolecules in animal cells. !Analogy: Lysosomes are like junk yards because in a junk yard, wastes are broken down which causes more entropy and lysosomes break down macromolecules.

Cytoplasm/Cytosol Function: The cytoplasm/ cytosol contains enzymes that catalyze/speed up reactions in plant and animal cells. !Analogy: Cytoplasm/ Cytosol is like the subways in New York because both speed up transportation for people/reactions in a cell.

Chloroplasts Function: Chloroplasts form thylakoids in which light absorbing pigments are embedded in plant cells. !Analogy: Chloroplasts are like the solar panels on top of building because both turn sunlight into energy for the cell/person/household to use.

CytoskeletonFunction: Cytoskeleton gives plant cells physical structure.

!Analogy: The cytoskeleton is like the skyscrapers in NYC because the skyscrapers shape the cityscape and the cytoskeleton shapes the cell’s physical appearance.

Vacuole Function: Vacuoles store water, nutrients, and waste in plant cells. !Analogy: Vacuoles are like restaurants because both store/preserve water and nutrients. Plus some restaurants recycle which is similar to storing waste in cells.

Cell WallFunction: The cell wall protects the plant cell. !Analogy: The cell wall is like the police force/NYPD because they both keep the cell/city secure and safe.