Category: Cells and Genetics

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Traditional proverb In the last section, we talked about cell division that gives us new cells for growing, repairing, and replacing old cells. Most of our cells use this kind of cell division, but we do have in our bodies special types of cells called gametes. These… Continue reading The Genetic Diversity Card Game

Note: This material is more advanced than most of the other Part 1’s in the program. I don’t recommend it for younger students. [C]hildren are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. Psalm 127:3, KJV Every second in your body, you are getting new cells – new skin… Continue reading The Puzzle of Cell Division

For we are God’s fellow works; you are God’s field, God’s building. 1 Corinthians 3:9, Douay-Rheims As we said in the last section, your genes carry the instructions for what sort of creature you are – what color your hair is, how tall you are, the shape of your nose. Your DNA looks like a… Continue reading Give the Lord What He Wants: Protein Synthesis

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5, KJV Have you ever wondered why you have brown hair and not blond? Or why you have green eyes while your brother has blue? Or why it is that chickens always come out of chicken eggs and never those from a duck? All… Continue reading The Wrestling Match of Your Genes

There may be something there that wasn’t there before.” Beauty and the Beast When we were talking about how cells work together to make your body, you might have noticed that there was a bit of a leap between your organ systems and you. After all, you are more than just a collection of organs,… Continue reading The Sum is More Than the Parts: Emergent Properties

‘Goodness!’ cried Marie, clapping her hands together, ‘What has Godfather Drosselmayer brought us?’ “ The Nutracker, Alexandre Dumas It’s kind of weird, when you think about it, how much time we spent in the last chapter talking about cells. After all, we are not cells. Sure we’re made of cells, but that doesn’t make us cells any… Continue reading From a Skin Cell to a Skink

Our gates were strong, our walls were thick, So smooth and high, no man could win A foothold there, no clever trick Could take us, have us dead or quick. Only a bird could have got in. The Castle, Edwin Muir It was wonderful taking a tour of our castle of a cell, so before… Continue reading From a Castle to a Tank

A mighty fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing.” A Mighty Fortress is Our God, Martin Luther Inside of each of those different types of cells, you will find even smaller parts that work together so the cell can do its job. In many ways, cells are like the castles of old, with many people… Continue reading The Cell – A Castle in Disguise

Cut your morning devotions into your personal grooming. You would not go out to work with a dirty face. Why start the day with the face of your soul unwashed?” Robert Hooke – discoverer of plant cells You might be thinking to yourself, after hearing about all of those different types of cells: why would… Continue reading What’s Shape Got to Do with It? – Cell Form and Function

By the help of a microscopes, there is nothing so small as to escape our inquiry; hence there is a new visible world discovered to the understanding.” Robert Hooke – discoverer of plant cells Now that we have taken a tour of all the Kingdoms of Creation, it is time for us to settle down… Continue reading Cells of Every Shape and Size