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Unit 1: The Cell

Screen capture from video "The Wacky History of Cell Theory”

The Wacky History of Cell Theory

STEM Explained

It took several scientists building on each other’s discoveries to come up with Cell Theory - one of the cornerstones of biology.

Red-haired woman

The Chemistry of Redheads

STEM Explained

Learn how chemistry and genetics makes redheads stand out from the crowd.

Mitosis of kidney cells © Ian P Newton & Paul L Appleton [CC BY-SA 4.0], Wikimedia Commons

What is Mitosis?

Backgrounders

Mitosis is an important part of cell division that helps organisms grow and repair themselves.

Water droplets on succulent leaves

How Do Plants Survive in the Desert?

STEM Explained

Plants need to exchange gases and water with their environment as part of photosynthesis. Some plant cells have evolved specifically for this purpose.

Why do leaves change colour in the fall?

Why do leaves change colour in the fall?

Hands-on Activities

How do the green leaves of summer change to vibrant colours in fall? Explore plant pigments in this chromatography activity.

Finger with a drop of blood

The Immune Response

STEM Explained

When you cut your finger, your immune system kicks in to protect you from pathogens.

Former Canadian astronaut Robert Thirsk enjoys cycling on board the ISS

Spaceflight and Bone Loss

STEM Explained

Astronauts can experience bone loss in space. To understand why, you need to know a bit about how bones are formed and maintained in your body.

How does water move up a plant?

How does water move up a plant?

Hands-on Activities

Do an experiment with celery to learn about the structures that help plants take up water.

How do I construct a terrarium?

How do I construct a terrarium?

Hands-on Activities

You can make your own terrarium for growing plants!

Lawn mower mowing grass

How Do Plants Use Chemical Signalling?

STEM Explained

How do plants use scents? Learn how some plants use chemical signals to send messages to animals or other plants.

Green walls in Harvard University

Green Walls

STEM Explained

Green walls use plant processes to improve air quality in buildings.

Lacks historical marker in Clover, Virginia

Why is Henrietta Lacks Important?

STEM Explained

When the cells of Henrietta Lacks were collected by medical researchers after her death in 1951, it changed the future of medicine.

Hand with screwdriver “repairing” DNA

DNA Damage and Repair

Backgrounders

This backgrounder explains the different ways that cells repair damage to DNA.

Massive algal bloom

Eutrophication: Why you should care about pond scum

STEM Explained

When fertilizers from agriculture get into lakes and rivers, big problems can result for aquatic ecosystems, food chains & webs!

T cells and cancer cells - Image © Meletios Verras, iStockPhoto.com

Can Your Own Cells Cure Cancer?

STEM Explained

When a person has cancer, CAR-T Therapy uses their own cells to destroy the cancer cells in their body.