Cell City Analogy. Smart method to Learn the Cell Structure and Function

Animal Cell as City Analogy

We have already compared Cell to a factory; now let's compare Cell to a city. As you know cell is basic structural and functional unit of life. All organisms, from bacteria to blue whale are made of cells. Basically, there are two types of cells; Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic. Watch our video on this topic here.

In prokaryote, pro means (first formed) karyote means (nucleus): Genetic material, DNA is not surrounded by a membrane or it is scattered in the cytoplasm. Eg: bacteria

In Eu (true) karyote (nucleus): Genetic material DNA is surrounded by a nuclear membrane. The other major difference is the present of organelles like mitochondria, golgi apparatus etc in eukaryotes or division of labour is there. Imagination is the key in understanding this wonderful minute structure that makes us alive. Here we are going to compare a Eukaryotic cell to a city.

A cell has various compartments performing different functions and producing many products for the sustenance, just like a city.

In a city there are different sections like administration, transportation, waste management etc. Organelles in a cell can be compared to different sections of a city performing different functions as a complex entity.

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1) Nucleus: is comparable to the “City Hall or Town hall” of a city where policy makers discuss, decide and formulate laws for the smooth governance of the city. This administrative site is guarded by the city police force for regulated entry and exit. Inside the cell, the nucleus is the instruction centre with the genetic material DNA, where instruction for the synthesis of products or proteins is coded. It is protected by a nuclear membrane, ensuring its protection from the rest of the cell and also ensures selective permeability or entry and exit.

2) Mitochondrion: In a city, it is the “Power plant” where energy or electric current is supplied to different parts of the city for day-to-day activities. It is the powerhouse of the cell producing energy by cellular respiration thus providing energy for all cellular activities.

3) Cytoplasm: In a city, it can be compared to the “premise, area, or the environment”. It is the fluid filled matrix of the cell where all organelles, water, salts and various organic molecules are present.

4) Endoplasmic reticulum (ER): is comparable to the “high way or road” of a city where the products produced are transported to different locations of the city. ER is an interconnected membranous system where proteins are modified and transported. RER has ribosomes (workers) on the surface responsible for protein synthesis (products). It has a continuous connection with the nuclear membrane.

5) Golgi apparatus (GA): In a city, it is the “post office” where products are classified, addressed and dispatched. GA is the ‘sorting centre of the cell’ where proteins are chemically tagged or addressed to reach the correct location within a cell.

6) Ribosomes: is comparable to “factory” in a city where different products required are made. Ribosomes are protein synthesizing nano machines that synthesize proteins required for the cell.

7) Vesicles: is comparable to “road trucks” that carry products to different parts of the city. Proteins are packed in vesicles transported to the precise destinations within the cell.

8) Lysosome: is comparable to a “recycling plant” where wastes are disposed, degraded and recycled. A lysosome is a membrane-bound cell organelle with digestive enzyme that digest and recycle material taken up from outside the cell and to degrade biomolecules of the cell itself.

9) Cell membrane: is comparable to “the city limits” of a city. The cell membrane is a semi permeable boundary of the cell that has specialized channels for entry and exit guarded by proteins.

Cell City Analogy. Smart method to Learn the Cell Structure and Function

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