When you think about a cell, you probably imagine something tiny, right? Well, that’s not always the case! Some cells can be surprisingly big. For example, there’s a single-celled organism called a xenophyophore that can grow almost as large as a volleyball. It’s just one cell with a single membrane. And did you know that a giraffe has a nerve cell that stretches several meters long, connecting its brain to its larynx? But the heaviest cell on Earth is something you might be more familiar with. Welcome to MinuteEarth!
An egg is a special type of cell. It’s the cell that gets fertilized by sperm to eventually form a baby. Eggs are usually the largest cells produced by animals. This is because they need to provide all the nutrients and support for the developing embryo until it can start getting resources from its mother. In animals that lay eggs, like birds, the eggs are even bigger because they have to contain everything the baby needs to grow and develop completely outside the mother’s body.
When an egg meets sperm, it starts dividing, turning that one big cell into many smaller cells. But if an egg doesn’t get fertilized, it won’t divide. In most animals, an unfertilized egg is absorbed back into the mother’s body. However, for animals like birds that lay large eggs, it’s often easier to lay an unfertilized egg than to reabsorb it. This is why we have eggs, which are essentially one large cell wrapped in a shell. Even if they don’t become a baby, they can still make a delicious breakfast!
Speaking of delicious things, there’s something new and exciting: MinuteFood! It’s a channel where we explore food and cooking from a scientific angle. You can join me in my kitchen as we learn about the science behind what we cook, eat, and drink. The goal is to help us become better cooks. We’re not doing anything too fancy; I’m just a home cook who loves tasty food. If you’re curious about how to avoid overcooked steak or how chemistry can make garlic taste even better, check out MinuteFood. We’ve just started sharing some awesome new videos, and you don’t need any reservations to join in!
Imagine you’re a scientist studying the largest cell in the animal kingdom: the egg cell. Create a detailed diagram of an egg cell, labeling its parts and explaining their functions. Share your diagram with the class and discuss why the egg cell needs to be so large compared to other cells.
Conduct a research project comparing the sizes of different cells, including the xenophyophore, nerve cells in giraffes, and egg cells. Create a visual chart or presentation to illustrate the size differences. Present your findings to the class and discuss why some cells are larger than others.
Perform a hands-on dissection of a chicken egg to explore its structure. Identify and label the different parts, such as the yolk, albumen, and shell. Discuss how each part contributes to the development of a chick and relate it to the concept of an egg being a single cell.
Simulate the process of cell division using modeling clay or other craft materials. Start with a large “egg” cell and demonstrate how it divides into smaller cells. Explain each step of the division process and how it leads to the development of a multicellular organism.
Join a cooking activity where you explore the science behind cooking eggs. Experiment with different cooking methods, such as boiling, frying, and scrambling, and observe how heat affects the egg’s structure. Discuss the changes you observe and relate them to the scientific concepts of proteins and heat.
When I think of a cell—specifically the biological kind—I automatically envision something very small. The definition of a cell relates to its size. However, cells can be quite large. For instance, a single-celled organism called a xenophyophore can grow nearly as big as a volleyball, consisting of just one cell within a single membrane. Additionally, the nerve cell that connects a giraffe’s larynx to its brain can measure several meters in length. Interestingly, the heaviest cell on our planet is found right here. Welcome to MinuteEarth.
An egg, which is the cell fertilized by sperm to create a baby, is typically the largest cell produced by an organism. This makes sense; in animals that develop their young internally, the egg must provide all the necessary resources to nourish and support the embryo until it can begin to draw resources from its mother. Therefore, the egg needs to be quite large. In species where the young develop outside the mother, such as birds, the eggs must be even larger, as they contain everything required for the baby’s development from start to finish.
When an egg encounters sperm, it begins to divide, transforming one large cell into many smaller cells. However, an unfertilized egg does not divide. In most animals, an unfertilized egg is reabsorbed by the mother’s body. For animals that produce these large egg cells, like birds, it is often simpler to lay an unfertilized egg rather than reabsorb it. This results in a single large cell encased in a shell—a magnificent golden blob that may not develop into a baby but can certainly make for a delightful breakfast.
Speaking of delicious things, we’ve launched something new: MinuteFood, a channel that delves into food and cooking through a scientific perspective. You can join me in my kitchen as I explore the science behind what we cook, eat, and drink, all aimed at improving our culinary skills. We’re not focusing on elaborate techniques; I’m a home cook who simply wants to enjoy tasty food. If you’re curious about the physics of avoiding overcooked steak or how chemistry can enhance the flavor of garlic, check out MinuteFood, where we’ve just begun sharing exciting new videos—no reservations needed!
Cell – The basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms. – The human body is made up of trillions of cells that perform various functions.
Egg – The female reproductive cell in animals and plants, which can develop into a new organism when fertilized. – The egg of a chicken contains nutrients that support the growth of a developing chick.
Sperm – The male reproductive cell in animals, which can fertilize an egg to form a new organism. – Sperm cells are produced in the male reproductive organs and are essential for reproduction.
Embryo – An early stage of development in multicellular organisms, following fertilization and before becoming a fetus. – The embryo develops rapidly in the first few weeks after fertilization.
Nutrients – Substances that provide the necessary components for growth and maintenance of life. – Plants absorb nutrients from the soil to help them grow and produce food.
Animals – Multicellular organisms that are typically capable of movement and responsive to their environment. – Animals play a crucial role in ecosystems by maintaining balance and biodiversity.
Divide – The process by which a cell splits into two or more cells, often as part of growth or reproduction. – Cells divide to replace old or damaged cells and to allow organisms to grow.
Unfertilized – Referring to an egg that has not been fertilized by a sperm and cannot develop into an embryo. – An unfertilized egg will not develop into a chick, even if it is incubated.
Birds – Warm-blooded, egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings. – Birds are known for their ability to fly, although not all bird species can do so.
Science – The systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment. – Science helps us understand how the world works, from the smallest cells to the vast universe.
