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Cell vs. virus: A battle for health - Shannon Stiles

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TEDEd Animation

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All living things are made of cells. In the human body, these highly efficient units are protected by layer upon layer of defense against icky invaders like the cold virus. Shannon Stiles takes a journey into the cell, introducing the microscopic arsenal of weapons and warriors that play a role in the battle for your health.

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Meet The Creators

  • Educator Shannon Stiles
  • Writer Stephanie Warren
  • Director Igor Coric
  • Narrator Michelle Snow
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Lesson in progress

Cellular energy use. Eukaryotic cells, both plant and animal, break down sugars through aerobic processes in the mitochondria to create ATP releasing water as a byproduct.

I am a science teacher, and I have to say that I really love this lesson. I think the video does a phenomenal job of walking students through the cell as a system with many interdependent parts, and explains the role of each organelle in a way that my students can really grasp. I did find, however, that the explanation of cellular energy reinforced one of the misconceptions that my students struggle with: both plant and animal cells use oxygen to break down sugar and create ATP.

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Lesson completed

This is how cells respond to what is wrong and can get rid of invaders.

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