Now that we're seeing cells getting bigger and splitting, we're wondering how stuff gets inside the cells (they've got to get more matter somehow, right?). We know that the body makes more cells to fill in the gap, but exactly how does this happen? We're thinking that the blood brings necessary nutrients, food and oxygen, but do cells have holes in them to let stuff in? And they've got to be able to let stuff out of them, too!
We made some predictions about this, and ironically, none of our predictions involved mouths. We're not thinking that cells have mouths!
We made some predictions about this, and ironically, none of our predictions involved mouths. We're not thinking that cells have mouths!
We're thinking that maybe if we look at cells under a microscope again, and give them "food/nutrients/water" at the same time, then maybe we can see what happens. We know that bacteria must consume stuff, but what about other cells? Aren't plants made of them, too?
Mrs. Brinza found an interesting video of a scientist offering nutrients to a plant, and lo and behold, we saw some interesting things happen when a plant (the skin of a red onion to be exact) was offered water and nutrient:
Mrs. Brinza found an interesting video of a scientist offering nutrients to a plant, and lo and behold, we saw some interesting things happen when a plant (the skin of a red onion to be exact) was offered water and nutrient:
We saw how both the water and the nutrients (salt in this case) seem to enter and exit the cells! This must mean the outside structures of the cell not only let things in, but allow things to leave the cells, like waste. This is totally making sense that things can go in and out of cells, as they need to get bigger before the divide!
We agree that things go in and out, and we're seeing that plant cells and our various cells share structures in common, but we also see some differences!
We agree that things go in and out, and we're seeing that plant cells and our various cells share structures in common, but we also see some differences!
We notice there's stuff inside the cell (cytoplasm) and a structure that acts like a body guard to let things in and out (cell membrane). But we see there's another structure on plant cells that animal cells don't have (cell wall) and it makes sense to us that it's rigid in structure as plants don't have some of the defense mechanisms animals have (i.e. running away from predators or a wind/rain storm!).
We feel like we're in a good place to put pieces together! Cells certainly take things in from the blood that they need, are able to grow, and then can divide/multiply. We're summarizing our findings! Check back soon as we work to come to consensus on all that we've figured out!
We feel like we're in a good place to put pieces together! Cells certainly take things in from the blood that they need, are able to grow, and then can divide/multiply. We're summarizing our findings! Check back soon as we work to come to consensus on all that we've figured out!