My friends, Brad and Jen, have an eleven-year-old son named Max. This picture is from several years ago when all of us met up in San Francisco for lunch. Watching Max grow into an intelligent, kind young man has been a privilege.
For a science assignment, he constructed an interview that teaches readers about cell parts. It's so well-written, funny, and educational that, with Max's permission, I'm posting it, hoping you enjoy the dialogue as much as me.
**Interview with the Organelles**
Announcer: “Ladies and gentlemen, for our next portion of the show we will be interviewing some special guests. From the microscopic level, please welcome the organelles!
[Music plays]
Interviewer: Welcome to the interview with the organelles! I’m your host, the one and only
James Farr. Today, we will be talking with the different parts of an average animal cell. Up first, the director of the cell, the nucleus!
Nucleus: Hello everyone, I would like to start by taking all the credit for everyone’s jobs. I am
the cell’s control center, so I tell everyone what to do.
James Farr: So, you boss all of the other organelles around? That seems kind of mean.
Nucleus: Well, they all need me, otherwise it would become chaos. I also store all of the cell’s DNA.
James Farr: I appreciate you coming here. Next up, the nucleolus!
Nucleolus: Hello everyone. I am the behind the scenes worker who makes most of the ribosomes in the cell. All the ribosomes should be more grateful, but they have a giant attitude now, and we have been in a disagreement.
James Farr: Wow, that seems like a real issue. We’ll talk to the ribosomes later, where maybe we can find out what this is all about. For now, however, let’s talk to the nuclear membrane!
Nuclear Membrane: Hi everyone. My job is often overlooked, but I am the barrier between the cytoplasm, who thinks he’s sooooooo good, and the nucleus, who thinks he owns the place. Meanwhile, I have to listen to their dumb conversations.
James Farr: It sounds like you have a lot on your plate. How do you manage?
Nuclear Membrane: We all work together to make the cell function, and I must do my job.
James Farr: Now that right there is commitment. Next, the chromosomes!
Chromosomes: Hello, we are the chromosomes. We hold the cell’s DNA, which is really
directing the nucleus. We are the ones who control everything. WE RULE IT ALL!
James Farr: Well, that’s slightly concerning. After the ad break, we will talk to the cell
membrane!
[Outro]
[Ad]
[Intro]
James Farr: Welcome back to the interview with the organelles. Next, we will be talking to the cell membrane.
Cell Membrane: Hi everyone, I am the cell membrane. I have long given up trying to humble the cytoplasm. I just do my job, keeping the boundary between the cell and the outside world. I let everyone else take care of the cell.
James Farr: Well, that sounds boring. Let’s interview someone exciting, like the cytoplasm!
Cytoplasm: Thank you all for making the effort to see me in all my glory. I am just going to start by saying that I am the best. I keep all the organelles where they should be, and I am the jelly of the cell. The nucleus seems to think he owns the place, but I am the real star. I need to be treated with more respect.
James Farr: Here comes the nucleus. I wonder what is going to happen with these two together.
Nucleus: You dare! Without me, you would just be a floating glob of mush.
Cytoplasm: YOU. I have given nothing but hard work to this cell, and yet I am still
under-appreciated.
Nucleus: I could do everything you do in my sleep, even though I don’t sleep. UNLIKE YOU,
WHO GETS 10 HOURS EVERY NIGHT!
*Nucleus and Cytoplasm stomp away from each other*
James Farr: Well, they need therapy. Next we have the mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell!
Mitochondria: I am so tired. I am constantly exhausted, having to keep this cell running. I make most of the energy for the cell, and I have my own small portion of DNA, which I keep safe and am very proud of. I give and receive help from the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, and lysosomes.
James Farr: Well, keep up the good work! Next, we have the rough endoplasmic reticulum.
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum: Look, before you say something, I know my name is long and hard to pronounce and spell. Just try your best, because I sure didn’t choose it! Anyways, I produce proteins that allow the rest of the cell to function. Me and my brother (the smooth endoplasmic reticulum) are hard workers, and we like to be recognized for it. We work closely with the mitochondria and the Golgi Bodies.
James Farr: Sounds interesting. Moving on to a name I can pronounce, please welcome the
ribosomes!
Ribosomes: Hey dude. We are the protein producers, bro. We give all of the organelles whatever they need to survive. The endoplasmic reticulums give us stuff, and we move it all around, Bro. Also, the nucleolus sucks. He thinks he gets to boss us around, just because he made us, but we disagree.
James Farr: Ok, not sure what’s going on there, but we’ll move on. After the ad break, the
Golgi Bodies!
[Outro]
[Ad]
[Intro]
James Farr: Welcome back to the only person who’s crazy enough to interview a cell! Please
welcome the Golgi Bodies!
Golgi Bodies: We are the only normal people here. We’re like the delivery system of the cell,
because we move proteins and fat in the inside and outside of the cell. We get our mail, the
proteins, from the Endoplasmic Reticulum. I think we’re starting to go crazy listening to
everyone here though.
James Farr: I couldn't agree more. However, the show must go on. The next organelle is the
microvilli!
Microvilli: We are in charge of digesting food for the cell. It isn’t the most rewarding job, but we help out where we can. We are also very small, which is why micro is in our name. We interact with the nucleus, rough endoplasmic reticulum, and the lysosomes.
James Farr: Sounds interesting. Well, at least the part that I could hear did. The next cell part is the lysosomes. What do you do?
Lysosomes: W-w-w-we d-d-d-d-degrade p-p-p-proteins inside the c-c-c-cell. W-w-w-w-we
l-l-l-like to w-w-w-work by ourselves. W-w-w-we interact with t-t-t-t-the m-m-m-m-m-m…
James Farr: Mitochondria?
Lysosomes: Y-yes. As well as the n-n-n-n-n-n…
James Farr: Nucleus?
Lysosomes: I also w-w-w-w-work w-w-w-with the p-p-p-p-p-p-p…
James Farr: Pinocytic Vesicles?
Lysosomes: Yes! W-w-w-we try to a-a-a-avoid other organelles as m-m-m-much as
p-p-p-p-possible, but we sometimes c-c-c-can’t help it.
James Farr: Before I have to do any more translating, let's move on. The final organelle, please welcome the pinocytic vesicles!
Pinocytic Vesicles: Hello everyone! I am in charge of bringing small particles outside the cell into the cell. I work closely with the lysosomes and the cytoplasm, too. I know that my job, assisting with pinocytosis, is important, but I can’t brag about it. Unlike the mitochondria, who is practically famous, being the powerhouse of the cell and all.
James Farr: Well I don’t envy you. Ladies and gentlemen, that is all for today’s show. I hope
you enjoyed and learned something new. James Farr, out.
[Outro]
For a science assignment, he constructed an interview that teaches readers about cell parts. It's so well-written, funny, and educational that, with Max's permission, I'm posting it, hoping you enjoy the dialogue as much as me.
**Interview with the Organelles**
Announcer: “Ladies and gentlemen, for our next portion of the show we will be interviewing some special guests. From the microscopic level, please welcome the organelles!
[Music plays]
Interviewer: Welcome to the interview with the organelles! I’m your host, the one and only
James Farr. Today, we will be talking with the different parts of an average animal cell. Up first, the director of the cell, the nucleus!
Nucleus: Hello everyone, I would like to start by taking all the credit for everyone’s jobs. I am
the cell’s control center, so I tell everyone what to do.
James Farr: So, you boss all of the other organelles around? That seems kind of mean.
Nucleus: Well, they all need me, otherwise it would become chaos. I also store all of the cell’s DNA.
James Farr: I appreciate you coming here. Next up, the nucleolus!
Nucleolus: Hello everyone. I am the behind the scenes worker who makes most of the ribosomes in the cell. All the ribosomes should be more grateful, but they have a giant attitude now, and we have been in a disagreement.
James Farr: Wow, that seems like a real issue. We’ll talk to the ribosomes later, where maybe we can find out what this is all about. For now, however, let’s talk to the nuclear membrane!
Nuclear Membrane: Hi everyone. My job is often overlooked, but I am the barrier between the cytoplasm, who thinks he’s sooooooo good, and the nucleus, who thinks he owns the place. Meanwhile, I have to listen to their dumb conversations.
James Farr: It sounds like you have a lot on your plate. How do you manage?
Nuclear Membrane: We all work together to make the cell function, and I must do my job.
James Farr: Now that right there is commitment. Next, the chromosomes!
Chromosomes: Hello, we are the chromosomes. We hold the cell’s DNA, which is really
directing the nucleus. We are the ones who control everything. WE RULE IT ALL!
James Farr: Well, that’s slightly concerning. After the ad break, we will talk to the cell
membrane!
[Outro]
[Ad]
[Intro]
James Farr: Welcome back to the interview with the organelles. Next, we will be talking to the cell membrane.
Cell Membrane: Hi everyone, I am the cell membrane. I have long given up trying to humble the cytoplasm. I just do my job, keeping the boundary between the cell and the outside world. I let everyone else take care of the cell.
James Farr: Well, that sounds boring. Let’s interview someone exciting, like the cytoplasm!
Cytoplasm: Thank you all for making the effort to see me in all my glory. I am just going to start by saying that I am the best. I keep all the organelles where they should be, and I am the jelly of the cell. The nucleus seems to think he owns the place, but I am the real star. I need to be treated with more respect.
James Farr: Here comes the nucleus. I wonder what is going to happen with these two together.
Nucleus: You dare! Without me, you would just be a floating glob of mush.
Cytoplasm: YOU. I have given nothing but hard work to this cell, and yet I am still
under-appreciated.
Nucleus: I could do everything you do in my sleep, even though I don’t sleep. UNLIKE YOU,
WHO GETS 10 HOURS EVERY NIGHT!
*Nucleus and Cytoplasm stomp away from each other*
James Farr: Well, they need therapy. Next we have the mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell!
Mitochondria: I am so tired. I am constantly exhausted, having to keep this cell running. I make most of the energy for the cell, and I have my own small portion of DNA, which I keep safe and am very proud of. I give and receive help from the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, and lysosomes.
James Farr: Well, keep up the good work! Next, we have the rough endoplasmic reticulum.
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum: Look, before you say something, I know my name is long and hard to pronounce and spell. Just try your best, because I sure didn’t choose it! Anyways, I produce proteins that allow the rest of the cell to function. Me and my brother (the smooth endoplasmic reticulum) are hard workers, and we like to be recognized for it. We work closely with the mitochondria and the Golgi Bodies.
James Farr: Sounds interesting. Moving on to a name I can pronounce, please welcome the
ribosomes!
Ribosomes: Hey dude. We are the protein producers, bro. We give all of the organelles whatever they need to survive. The endoplasmic reticulums give us stuff, and we move it all around, Bro. Also, the nucleolus sucks. He thinks he gets to boss us around, just because he made us, but we disagree.
James Farr: Ok, not sure what’s going on there, but we’ll move on. After the ad break, the
Golgi Bodies!
[Outro]
[Ad]
[Intro]
James Farr: Welcome back to the only person who’s crazy enough to interview a cell! Please
welcome the Golgi Bodies!
Golgi Bodies: We are the only normal people here. We’re like the delivery system of the cell,
because we move proteins and fat in the inside and outside of the cell. We get our mail, the
proteins, from the Endoplasmic Reticulum. I think we’re starting to go crazy listening to
everyone here though.
James Farr: I couldn't agree more. However, the show must go on. The next organelle is the
microvilli!
Microvilli: We are in charge of digesting food for the cell. It isn’t the most rewarding job, but we help out where we can. We are also very small, which is why micro is in our name. We interact with the nucleus, rough endoplasmic reticulum, and the lysosomes.
James Farr: Sounds interesting. Well, at least the part that I could hear did. The next cell part is the lysosomes. What do you do?
Lysosomes: W-w-w-we d-d-d-d-degrade p-p-p-proteins inside the c-c-c-cell. W-w-w-w-we
l-l-l-like to w-w-w-work by ourselves. W-w-w-we interact with t-t-t-t-the m-m-m-m-m-m…
James Farr: Mitochondria?
Lysosomes: Y-yes. As well as the n-n-n-n-n-n…
James Farr: Nucleus?
Lysosomes: I also w-w-w-w-work w-w-w-with the p-p-p-p-p-p-p…
James Farr: Pinocytic Vesicles?
Lysosomes: Yes! W-w-w-we try to a-a-a-avoid other organelles as m-m-m-much as
p-p-p-p-possible, but we sometimes c-c-c-can’t help it.
James Farr: Before I have to do any more translating, let's move on. The final organelle, please welcome the pinocytic vesicles!
Pinocytic Vesicles: Hello everyone! I am in charge of bringing small particles outside the cell into the cell. I work closely with the lysosomes and the cytoplasm, too. I know that my job, assisting with pinocytosis, is important, but I can’t brag about it. Unlike the mitochondria, who is practically famous, being the powerhouse of the cell and all.
James Farr: Well I don’t envy you. Ladies and gentlemen, that is all for today’s show. I hope
you enjoyed and learned something new. James Farr, out.
[Outro]
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