Difference between revisions of "Islands of Adventure is like a Cell"

Revision as of 02:58, 5 March 2008

Biology Project to compare a cell to something. In our case: Islands of Adventure in Orlando, FL

PowerPoint

Coming as soon as I fix the server to allow large files

• Fence = Cell Membrane
• Front Gate = Membrane Channel
• Facades = Cytoskeleton
• Paths = Cytoplasm
• Boat Ride = Endoplasmic Reticulum
• Office = Nucleus
• Park Blueprints = Chromosomes
• Paper Blueprints are on = Chromatin
• Ad Office = Nucleolus
• Cars in Parking Lot = Ribosomes
• Back Pathways = Vacuole
• Janitors = Lysosome
• Trash truck = Vesicle
• Family Time = Golgi
• Generators = Mitochondria

Description

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Animal Cell/Amusement Park Analogy In today’s society, it would be virtually impossible for anyone to truly live on their own. There would always have to be some aspect of the “modern life” present. Airports, amusement parks, hotels, and many other large businesses would not be able to function if everyone (and everything) working there did not work together, for without the help of others, nothing would be able to function on its own. By analyzing the comparison between animal cells and amusement parks, we can better understand why the organelles of cells work together, and why cells and amusement parks are actually quite similar.

Animal cells are made up of about sixteen different organelles that work together to make the cell function properly. The main center of operations is the nucleus and the nucleolus working hand in hand. They control the cell and contain DNA that gives the cell specific characteristics. The cell also contains a Golgi apparatus that serves as transportation for macromolecules, smooth endoplasmic reticulum breaks down and controls toxins in the cell, rough endoplasmic reticulum that hold proteins before they are transported to other parts of the cell, a cell membrane that serves as a protective coating for the cell, among many other organelles. If each organelle did not do its part, the cell would not function properly.

Modern-day amusement parks operate in a similar fashion. Corporate officials control how the park is run by monitoring cash inflow, purchasing new rides, and listening to the ideas of their customers. Many men and women work together to keep the park runs smoothly. Some act as cleaners by picking up trash and empting garbage cans, while others control when the rides begin. Some employees are responsible for transporting people on a monorail or shuttle bus, while still others work to provide food for the guests. Without all of these people working together, amusement parks would not be nearly as enjoyable as they are now.

Universal Studio’s Islands of Adventure theme park can be easily compared to an animal cell. The outer fence that surrounds the park is similar to the cell membrane. They both the fence and the membrane work to protect their insides from outsiders and let it keep its shape. As you enter the amusement park, you are greeted by the front gate which is very similar to the membrane channel of a cell. The membrane channel contains openings that let food go in and waste go out through its pores just as the front gate lets people in, and merchandise, food, waste, and satisfied customers out. As you continue inside, you are greeting by facades that are similar to the cytoskeleton of a cell. Since the cytoskeleton helps the cell to keep its shape, the facades help the park to remain in shape as well. The pathways throughout the park compare nicely to the cytoplasm of a cell. The cytoplasm helps to move materials around the cell, just as the paths help to move people around the park. The boat ride in Islands of Adventure theme park is similar to the endoplasmic reticulum of a cell because they both get things ready to transport, and then transport them to their destinations. The office of the theme park is similar to the nucleus of a cell because they both monitor what is going on in their environments (Islands of Adventure controls their staff, rides, and other park managements, while the cell’s nucleus turns on and off different genetic programs in the cell). The blueprints of the park are similar to the chromosomes of a cell because they carry information that tells how the cell/park should be built. The paper that these blueprints are on is the chromatin in a cell because it holds the “ink” of the blueprints (without paper the park’s blueprints would have no foundation). Islands of Adventure’s advertising office is similar to the cell’s nucleolus. It entices people to come to the park, just as the nucleolus synthesizes ribosomes. The cars in the parking lot are symbolic of a ribosome because it causes the proteins to assemble. The back pathways would then serve as vacuoles because they both house materials. The park’s clean-up crews are similar to the lysosomes because they break down “once edible materials” into smaller molecules. The trash trucks can be easily compared to the vesicles because they transport waste away from the cell, just as a trash truck removes waste from the park. The sense of “family time” is like the Golgi in a cell because it is what is manufactured from the park. The Mitochondria is similar to the park’s generators because it provides energy for the park.

	By comparing Island of Adventure Amusement Park to a common animal cell, many similarities were easily seen.  Both structures require many different people/organelles to keep things running correctly.  They also both have related jobs for the people/organelles to perform.  By analyzing how well cells compare to amusement parks, it is easier to learn the functions of each of its organelles.