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Some selected virtual reality worlds about the cell:

 

Sodium ion channel
This is a voltage gated channel. It opens after the voltage on the cell membrane falls under a certain threshold level.
Java version ( no plugin needed)
VRML version (offers more interactivity) - get free plugin!

 

Travel through the cell during the mitosis

Mitosis is the process of cell division. Mother cell duplicates its genetic material and some other organelles and divides into two daughter cells. The mitotic phases are interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase.


VRML version (offers more interactivity) - get free plugin!

 

 

Cell membrane depolarization and the action potential
Depolarize the cell with the slider.There appears a passively spreading depolarization of the cell membrane which can give rise to spikes.
VRML version (offers more interactivity) - get free plugin!

 

Mitochondrion structure
Mitochondria are producing energy in the cell. They have a double membrane; the outer one is very permeable, while the inner membrane bears invaginations called cristae which contain chains on enzymes involved in the respiratory chain of metabolism.
Java version ( no plugin needed)
VRML version (offers more interactivity) - get free plugin!

 

Endocytosis with clathrin receptor molecules

Cell ingests molecules it needs so that it forms invaginations of the cell membrane. The transported molecule (cholesterol in this case) is linked to the receptor protein (clathrin) during the transport.

At the beginning of this animation you are located outside the cell. You see the balls representing the cholesterol molecules that will be ingested. The animation shows how the cholesterol binds to the clathrin and the pinocytotic vesicle is formed. Finally you observe from inside of the cell the pinocytotic vesicle with clathrin-cholesterol complexes on its membrane.


VRML version (offers more interactivity) - get free plugin!