cell restaurant analogy

Chromosomes carry information that cells need to function and reproduce. They are the part of the nucleus that contain the genetic information a cell needs to create the next of its generation.

Recipes are like chromosomes because they also have the instructions needed to make the next version of a specific dish. Kind of like genetic information.

The Cell Membrane controls the movement of materials in and out of the cell. It surrounds all of the cells contents, and is known as the “skin of the cell”.

Restaurant Doors are similar to the cell membrane because they also control what comes in and out of the restaurant.

Cytoplasm is the watery fluid that makes up the cells volume, and is roughly 65% to 95% of the cell. It is not an organelle, but it is the fluid where organelles are suspended.

The Dining Room is like the cytoplasm because it contains all the people or customers, like how the cytoplasm contains all the organelles. It is also the majority of the restaurant.

Endoplasmic Reticulum is a series of folded membranes that transports proteins and other materials through the cytoplasm.

Waiters do the same thing as E.R. Waiters (E.R.) transport food through the dining room (cytoplasm).

The Vacuole is the storage space within the cell. It stores excess food, and other materials, including waste products; protecting the rest of the cell form contamination. Plants have one large vacuole, while animals have multiple small vacuoles.

Dumpsters are like the vacuole because they also store waste.

The Cell Wall is the structure that surrounds plant cells. It provides support and protection for the cell, as well as acting as a filtering mechanism.

The Walls of a restaurant are like the cell wall because they, similarly to the cell wall, support and protect the restaurant.

The Mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell. It provides energy throughout the cell, and helps process cell division, growth, and death. The energy produced by the mitochondria is what the cell uses to perform all of its functions.

Electricity in a restaurant is similar to the mitochondria because it also provides energy throughout the restaurant. It is also what the basic utilities (stove, fridge, etc.) use to perform their functions.

Ribosomes are ribbon like structures found inside the cell. Their main function is to produce proteins needed for cell growth, cell repair, and cell reproduction.

The Chefs in a restaurant are similar to ribosomes because they also make the food (proteins) for the customers.

The Golgi Apparatus stores and packages the proteins produced by the ribosomes. It takes the proteins and customizes them for use in the cell by altering the shape and/or adding materials to it.

The take out section is similar because it also packages and stores the food (proteins) produced by the chefs (ribosomes). The food is also altered to the customers liking.

Lysosomes break down left over cellular waste, digesting unwanted materials from throughout the cytoplasm by releasing digestive proteins. In other words, they clean out the cytoplasm.

Custodians are like lysosomes because they also clean. As stated previously, cytoplasm is like the dining room, which is what the custodians or lysosomes clean.

The Chloroplast in a plant cell is the site of photosynthesis. It absorbs sunlight, carbon dioxide and water to make food. It is only found in plant cells

Solar panels are like the chloroplast because they also absorb sunlight and turn it into energy. Food for plants is similar to energy.

The Nucleus acts like the control center of the cell, providing instructions to all of the other organelles. It contains chromosomes which contain DNA. It is "in charge" of all actions made.

The Head Chef is similar because they also send out instructions and decide what the chefs are cooking or doing. They are in control of hiring, firing, raises, and all basic decison making, just like the nucleas in in control of eating, movement and reproduction.

The Cilia/Flagella assist cells by propelling them through their environment.

Delivery men are like the cilia/flagella because, although they don't propel the restaurant itself through the environment, they do transport materials and such from inside the restaurant outside.