Sunday, February 16, 2014

Cell Organelles

If I had to choose which cell organelle to be, I would pick the ribosome. Each cell has thousands of ribosomes which are small structures inside the cell that translate mRNA from the nucleus and use the information the RNA provides to make proteins. Every second, ribosomes can add 3+ amino acids to a protein. Proteins do almost everything in the cell. Some proteins transport other organelles and substances through the cell and to other cells. Other proteins act as receptors on the outside of the cell membrane and transmit messages between other cells and its own cell. Cells would not work efficiently, if at all, without proteins. Since ribosomes are in charge of making the proteins, the ribosomes are the most important cell organelle.
I chose this organelle because the ribosome makes the proteins for the cell using existing information from the DNA in the nucleus and thus helps fuel many vital cell processes. I really want to pursue a career in psychology and the ribosome is kind of like a psychologist. It uses information provided by the nucleus like using the information provided by a psychiatrist's patient and translates it into something that can be used properly, like a psychiatrist would diagnose a patient and help them with the disorder they have and help them become a fully functioning person.

One disease caused by difficulties with ribosomes is called Treacle or Treacher Collins Syndrome that usually results in deformities of the eye, ear, and facial bones. These deformities are the results of miscoded proteins in the cells that make up the tissues in those bones. Male infertility can also be caused by mutations in the RNA that ribosomes translate.

No comments:

Post a Comment