Building Biology: Student Creates 3D Cell Model

At Northwest Vista College (NVC), students are finding that the best way to understand complex biological systems is sometimes through a hot glue gun. Last semester, student Joselyn Manzano designed and built a costume of a eukaryotic cell for her biological sciences course.

The project originated in her class as an extra-credit Halloween challenge.

"I wanted my costume to be both biology-related and creative, with a touch of humor," she said. "Since we were studying cells at the time, I decided to create a eukaryotic cell costume that would be scientifically accurate, visually engaging, and unique."

The Objective: Scientific Accuracy in 3D

The goal was to translate microscopic structures into a human-scale model. The core components included:

• Plasma membrane: The outer boundary that regulates transport.
• Cytoplasm: The internal environment that supports cellular activity.
• Nucleus: The command center that stores DNA and includes the nucleolus and nuclear pores.

Construction and Materials

Manzano utilized two flat poster boards to create a circular base, which she covered in dark fabric to represent the membrane and lighter fabric for the cytoplasm. The nucleus was engineered using Styrofoam balls coated with air-dry clay, with small holes added with a straw and a pencil to represent nuclear pores.

To populate the cell, she hand-shaped organelles from foam, clay, and pipe cleaners, using textbook diagrams to ensure each was colored and positioned according to its real-world function.

This hands-on approach for students transforms abstract biological structures into physical reality.

"Students learn best when they actively engage with concepts rather than just memorize facts. That’s why I love creating hands-on, creative projects like this eukaryotic cell costume: students can see and interact with the components of a cell, connecting what we learn in class to experiences they can relate to," said Dr. Amin Mohajeri, NVC Biological Sciences instructor and Manzano's mentor. "These kinds of activities make biology memorable, meaningful, and fun, helping knowledge stick long after the semester ends."

Educational Outcomes

The project proved to be an effective way to master cell biology. By integrating scientific accuracy with creative design, Manzano formed a "strong mental map" of the cell's components.

"Physically building each organelle helped me visualize how they are organized and how they interact within the cell," she noted, stating that the process made complex concepts like mitosis and meiosis significantly easier to understand.

Ultimately, the experience reinforced her passion for science. While the costume required significant effort and attention to detail, it turned a fundamental concept into an engaging, memorable learning tool.