Cell Membrane Bubble Lab helps Living Environment students understand molecular processes

What’s the connection with soap bubbles and Patricia Hoover’s middle school Living Environment class?

Soap bubbles are great substitutes for cell membranes.  They’re fluid, flexible, and can self-repair. Because of their similarities, bubbles are good materials to be part of her class’ Cell Membrane Bubble Lab.   

If students zoomed-in on a cell membrane under a microscope, they’d see that much of the membrane is a double layer of little molecules called phospholipids, lipid molecules that are the main component of the cell membrane.

“The soap in the bubble mixture acts very much like the phospholipids that make up the cell membrane,” said Mrs. Hoover. “The big name of the molecule can be intimidating and the processes that it is able to carry out at a molecular level are difficult for students to comprehend.”

To help them to comprehend, she has students use bubbles and straws to investigate the properties of cell membranes.

 “I like to do this lab with students to reinforce one of the major cross-cutting concepts in science: Structure and function,” she said. “Students get to investigate and discover how the structure of the cell membrane allows it to carry out the necessary functions to help cells maintain homeostasis.”

In biology, homeostasis is the ability to maintain a relatively stable internal state that persists despite changes in the world outside. All living organisms must regulate their internal environment to process energy and ultimately survive.

“They see and experience the ability of the cell membrane to be fluid and flexible, self-repair, used to make vacuoles (a small cavity or space in the tissues of an organism containing air or fluid) and is the same material used to surround organelles (subcellular structures that have one or more specific jobs to perform in the cell, much like an organ does in the body),” said Mrs. Hoover.  “They also are able to simulate the membrane proteins and their special functions.”

Plus, students get to have a little fun while they're learning. After all, who doesn’t like bubbles?

“It’s fun to see a demonstration of what is cell is like,” said student Drew Parcher, as huge bubbles began floating around in the classroom.

Avery Upeslacis added: “I like how we can see how the membranes can be repaired and how flexible they are.”  

To see more photos, visit the district’s Facebook page.