Structure & Function: Cells, Fall 13

Crowe

Cells sense their environment: a Case Study

A. Observation
We will be watching a video in class of a slide made from a blood sample drawn from a patient recently
admitted to the hospital.
How many different types of cells do you see in the video? _____
Describe what is happening in the video:

B. Developing hypotheses
You are told that the middle-sized spherical cell is a red blood cell. Can you make an educated guess as
to whether the other cells you see are prokaryotes or eukaryotes?
Draw an arrow to indicate any prokaryotes you see on the image above.
What information did you use to make this guess? What is one hypothesis that explains why the largest
cell follows the small cell?

What are some predictions that stem from your hypothesis?

Remember, predictions state what you expect to happen in a specific situation (e.g. we made a
prediction in the 1st days lecture from the all cells come from pre-existing cells hypothesis about
cell growth). Some things to consider: Can you think of any specific molecules or interactions that
might be involved in the chase? could you add something to the slide that you would expect to
alter the behavior of the large cell, based on your hypothesis?

What do you see happening to the small cell at the end of the movie?
What is the scientific term for this? Hint: it was in your readings last night and involves lysosomes....
Learn more about this process at home: Fig. 7.14

Structure & Function: Cells, Fall 13

Crowe

C. Cell Movement
Based on your readings about cell organelles & structures, list 3 or more structures (in addition to the
cytoskeleton) in the table below that you would expect to be involved in the actions of the large cell in
the movie. State how each structure would contribute to movement (i.e. what is its function?).
structure
function
1. Cytoskeleton
shape change/engulfing bacteria
2.
3.
4.
The large cell in the case study uses one type of cytoskeletal filament for movement: Actin

What other types of cytoskeletal filaments are there? What do they do?
Review at home: Table 7.3
Watch video of Actin/Myosin movement.
What is myosin doing?
What type of energy is Myosin using? ______________________ energy.
Motor proteins convert ________________________ energy in the form of ATP or GTP into
___________________ energy.
Transformation is a common theme in biology. When we look at cell respiration, we will see the cell use
energy stored in sugars to power the production of ATP.

Structure & Function: Cells, Fall 13

Crowe

D. Cellular Signaling Networks

How does leukocyte know what direction to move?
Cells respond to their environment. Describe the basic steps of signaling that lead to movement of the
neutrophil

1.
15

2.
3.
4.

Structure & Function: Cells, Fall 13

Crowe

Critical thinking question:

You look at a slide made from a sick human patient. You find over 50 small cells (<20 M
long, each), about 50 medium-sized round cells which you decide look like normal red blood
cells, and a few large cells (>100 M long, each) that are moving quickly, but randomly across
the slide.
i. What do you predict the small cells are? _______________________
ii. How do you think the small cell is moving?
List two different defects that could lead to the unusual presence of the randomly moving
cells. Be sure to state what cell the defect would be in.
1.

2.

Defect

Cell