Home >> Science & Nature >> Science

How to Make a Model of Cell Membranes Made Out of Clay

All cells are surrounded by a cell membrane or lipid bilayer. In eukaryotic cells, lipid bilayers also surround several of the various organelles found within the cell's cytoplasm, including the nucleus, the endoplasmic reticulum and the mitochondria. A lipid bilayer is composed mostly of phospholipid molecules. The molecules are arranged in two layers, with the hydrophobic phospholipid tails of one layer facing those of the other layer. The hydrophilic phospholipid heads, on the other hand, are in contact with the aqueous environment surrounding them.

Things You'll Need

Clay
Box of toothpicks

Instructions

- 1
  Use clay of any color to make about 80 small clay balls. Make the balls 1/2 inch in diameter. Make sure all of the balls are the same size.
- 2
  Count out approximately 160 toothpicks. Use toothpicks that have a flattened, rounded end instead of a pointy, sharp end.
- 3
  Break each toothpick somewhere along its length so the piece containing the flat, rounded end is 3/4 inch long.
- 4
  Insert the broken-off toothpick end about half way into a ball. Insert the toothpick at an angle of about 45 degrees.
- 5
  Insert another broken off toothpick end into the ball right next to the first toothpick, also at a 45 degree angle, but pointing in the opposite direction. The two toothpick pieces sticking out of the ball should form a "V."
- 6
  Prepare the rest of the balls in the same way.
- 7
  Take half of the balls and arrange them into a square or rectangular sheet, with the toothpicks sticking up. Attach the balls to each other by simply pushing them into each other gently so the clay sides stick.
- 8
  Arrange the second half of the balls into an identical sheet.
- 9
  Carefully pick up one of the sheets, turn it upside down, and stack it on top of the other sheet, with the toothpicks of both layers touching each other. The toothpicks represent the fatty acid tails of the phospholipids making up the cell membrane and the clay balls represent the phospholipid heads.

Science