The document provides information about a cell biology game called "Cellular Adventure" where players take on the role of a nerve signal navigating through a cell. The goal is to reach the nucleus and initiate replication by acquiring enough ATP points from correctly answering questions about organelles. Players avoid getting virus points by identifying organelles and their functions. The game includes game directions, preparation, objectives, pieces and question cards about mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes and other organelles.

1. CellularCellular
AdventureAdventure
Play the game
Game Directions
Story
Game Preparation
Objectives
Game Pieces

2. The Story of the “Cellular
Adventure”
It’s time to grow!!! Imagine you are a nerve signal, sent from the brain to each
cell in the body to initiate replication in that cell. Upon reaching the cell
membrane, you must enter the cell and navigate your way to the nucleus. On
your way, you will encounter several different cellular organelles and you
must be able to identify them (and their function) to know if they are to receive
your “replicate!” message. You will need to acquire energy in the form of
Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) in order to complete your mission and allow the
cell to begin replication. But watch out, some sneaky, sneaky viruses may
infiltrate your host cell if you are not adequately prepared for the trip! Fighting
these viruses will use up some of your ATP supply, so you will have to be careful
to have enough left once you reach the nucleus. If you don’t have adequate
energy once you reach the nucleus, you will have to acquire extra vitamins to
re-charge your supply and be able to complete your mission.
Home Page

3. Game Directions
The goal of the game is to provide a review of the parts of an animal cell and their function within the cell.
To play the game you have to have more than one, but no more than four, players. Each player will first roll
the dice to determine the playing order of the game.
1. Once the order has been decided, the first player will roll the dice again to see how many “spaces” in the
cytoplasm he/she can move.
2. If the player lands on an organelle, the player must first be able to identify the organelle. If the player is
correct, then he/she can “draw” a question card for that particular organelle by clicking on the organelle’s
button on the computer screen. If the player does not correctly identify the organelle, he/she must lose one
turn before answering a question card.
3. If the player can correctly answer the organelle question, the student receives five ATP points (ATP
point tallies must be recorded on the ATP/Virus Point Chart). The next player in order can then roll the dice
and start their turn. If the first player cannot answer the question correctly, they must accept two virus
points.
4. Players must make their way to the nucleus to initiate replication. On the way, they must only pass
through each organelle once (no back-tracking), unless they skipped that organelle on the first pass. While
following the path to the nucleus, if a player lands on an ATP space, they receive an extra three ATP
points.
5. If a player rolls a number on the dice that could take them past the next organelle on their path, they
have the option to skip that organelle. However, players must be warned that they have to have enough
ATP points once they reach the nucleus to initiate replication, and the way to receive the majority of ATP
points is to correctly answer organelle questions.
6. Upon reaching the nucleus, virus points are subtracted from ATP points. If the total is 19 – 30, then the
player wins. If the point total is 18 or less, then the player must click on a Vitamin card. If the vitamin
question is answered correctly, three ATP points are awarded. If this new total is still not enough points to
initiate replication, then the player must wait another turn and “draw” another medicine card.
To win the game you have to reach the nucleolus first and have enough ATP points to initiate replication.
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4. Game Preparation
• Game board: Print out slides 18 and 19, tape together to create a
unified cell game board.
• Point Chart: Print out slide 17 to allow players to keep a tally of their
acquired points.
• Game Pieces: Print out slide 5 and allow players to select and cut out
their game piece if desired. Other objects may also be used as game
pieces (paper clips, buttons, etc).
• Other Supplies: You will also need a dice and access to a computer to
play this game because the questions are accessible from the “Time to
Play…” screen within the PowerPoint presentation.
Home Page

5. Game Pieces
Return

6. Home Page

7. Educational Objectives
• Audience
Students in grades 9 to 12, depending on the complexity of the questions that
the teacher wants to write/change.
• Subject Area
Students will be able to identify the parts of an animal cell and answer questions
pertaining to each organelle’s function within the cell.
Home Page

8. Time to Play
“Cellular Adventure!”
Home Page
Game Directions
Mitochondrion
Golgi
Apparatus
Endoplasmic
Reticulum
Ribosome
Centrosome
Membrane-bound
Organelle
(vacuole, peroxisome,
lysosome)
VITAMIN!

9. Mitochondrion Questions
1.
3.
4.
2.
Back to
Game
screen

10. Golgi Apparatus Questions
1.
4.
2.
3.
Back to
Game
screen

11. Endoplasmic Reticulum
Questions
1.
3.
4.
2.
Back to
Game
screen

12. Ribosome Questions
1.
3.
4.
2.
Back to
Game
screen

13. Centrosome Questions
1.
4.
2.
3. Back to
Game
screen

14. Membrane-bound sac
questions
(vacuole, peroxisome, lysosome)
1.
3.
4.
2.
Back to
Game
screen

15. Vitamin Questions
1.
2.
Back to Game screen

16. ATP/Virus Point Chart
Player ATP Points Virus Points Total
(ATP – Virus)
1
2
3
4

19. 1.) What plant organelle is the
counterpart to the animal mitochondria?
– Flagella
– Stem
– Nucleus
– Chloroplast

20. 2.) The inner membrane of the
mitochondria is called:
Thylakoid
Cristae
Nuclear membrane

21. 3.) Mitochondria produce what energy
source:
ATP
Sugar
Sunlight
Protein

22. 4.) Mitochondria are enclosed in
membranes.
• True
• False

23. 1.)The Golgi apparatus modifies and stores
products from which other organelle?
• Nucleus
• Cell Membrane
• Lysosome
• Endoplasmic Reticulum

24. 2.)What does the Golgi use to receive
and transport materials?
• Cytoplasm
• Transport Vesicles
• Nerves
• U.P.S.

25. 3.) The Golgi’s flattened membrane sacs
are called what?
• Plates
• Cisternae
• Cristae
• Layers

26. 4.) The flattened sacs (cisternae) of the Golgi
are physically connected to one another.
• True
• False

27. 1.) Which type of E.R. has ribosomes
attached to it?
• Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum
• Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

28. 2.) Which type of E.R. functions in
synthesizing lipids and detoxification of
drugs?
• Rough E.R.
• Smooth E.R.

29. 3.) What is Rough E.R.’s main
function?
• Synthesis of secretory proteins
• Powerhouse of the cell
• Movement of the cell

30. 4.) The E.R. membrane is attached to
the Nuclear envelope.
• True
• False

31. 1.) Ribosomes can be found attached to
the Endoplasmic Reticulum.
• True
• False

32. 2.) Ribosomes can be found free in the
cytoplasm.
• True
• False

33. 3.) Ribosomes carry out what?
• Movement
• Reproduction
• Protein Synthesis

34. 4.) Insulin is a product made by
ribosomes.
• True
• False

35. 1.) A pair of what make up the
centrosome in an animal cell?
• Pair of shoes
• Pair of centrioles
• Pair of membranes

36. 2.) The centrioles are made up of what
structural element?
• Microtubules
• Cytoplasm
• Cartilage

37. 3.) Centrioles are not essential for
function in all cells.
• True
• False

38. 4.) Microtubules are also used in cilia
and flagella in what process?
• Movement
• Growth
• Reproduction

39. 1.) Peroxisomes get their name because
they produce what?
• Carbohydrates
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Protein

40. 2.) Lysosomes aid in what process?
• Digestion
• Movement
• Reproduction

41. 3.) Lysosomes digest by attaching to
what?
• Stomachs in bodies
• Nucleus in the cell
• Food Vacuoles within the cell

42. 4.) Vacuoles are important for both
plants and animals.
• True
• False

43. 1.) The nucleus contains what important
material in the cell?
• Food Material
• Genetic Material (DNA)
• Water

44. 2.) DNA in the nucleus can be in a
fibrous form called:
• Chromatin
• Spaghetti
• Cilia

45. That is Correct!
Give yourself
5 ATP
points!
Back to
Game
screen

46. Sorry, that’s
incorrect.
Give yourself 3 Virus points.
Back to
Game
screen