CELLABRATING EXPLORATIONS:

What’s your current understanding? For every True or False, please explain (in 3-4 sentences) why you selected
that response.

T/F ​The majority of bacteria are harmful to us.

T/F ​Our cells are dynamic and maintain equilibrium

T/F ​All chemicals have a negative impact on our cells

T/F ​Chronic diseases don’t affect teenagers

T/F ​Cells communicate to each other

Please select the response(s) you feel best make the most sense

1. Cells membranes provides us with protection by

A. Acting as a barrier to prevent molecules from entering the cell
B. Insulating the cell
C. Selectively letting certain molecules in depending on their shape
2. Viruses are able to “hijack” our cells by
A. Being passed from organism to organism
B. Taking over our cells and insert their DNA into our cells
C. Reproduce quickly inside our bodies

3. Antibiotics, while helpful, are also causing problems because

A. They kill everything they come in contact with
B. We’re running out of them
C. They cause bacteria to develop resistance to them

4. The common cold is not commonly understood because

A. There are numerous strains of the virus
B. They keep evolving
C. Antibacterial products don’t seem to prevent them

5. Our cells are

A. Highly organized
B. Able to maintain balance in changing environments
C. Able to repair themselves and replicate

7. Cancerous cells are different than healthy cells because

A. Unlike healthy cells, cancerous cells can divide
B. Cancer cells ignore healthy cell division rates and continue dividing until nutrients run out
C. Unlike healthy cells, cancerous cells’ surfaces allow them to break away from each other

8. The products we use can impact our cells because

A. They clog our pores
B. They can mimic molecules and enter our cells
C. They can alter the chemical communication pathways between our cells
What do you think?

Throughout the past month you’ve gained a lot of insights into your cellular world.
Below are several questions to help you explore your current understandings. Relax,
be thoughtful, and have fun!

Remember to use examples from class, your challenge board and other
explorations, and life experiences to strengthen your perspectives​. Drawings and
illustrations are welcome to accompany/enhance your responses, though captions are
recommended to maximize understanding of your glorious images.

1. ​“Ugg, cells are so boring. I don’t care. The only time cells matter is in school when our teachers make us,”​ says your
friend in the hallway. You, full of cellular wisdom, have been challenged. Given what you know, what would you say and
do to help your friend understand why ​and​ how they should care about their trillions of cells?

2. Let’s give our cells some credit. What are ways that our cells increase our invincibility?

3. We’ve explored how our choices and environments can impact our cells. Come up with a question and design an
experiment to explore the impact of one of your choices or environmental factors on your cells. Why are you interested in
the question you created? How would you test your question? What materials might you need? Identify what sorts of data
and information you might need to investigate your question.

4. Time and again we’ve been asking each other, “How Invincible ​Are​ You?” Your response to this may change over
time but with your current cellular understandings, how invincible do you believe you are?