Effect of Alcohol, Smoking & Vaping-5E

The Effect of Alcohol, Smoking & Vaping Lesson Plan looks directly at the effects of alcohol (vodka) cigarette smoke extract, and vape extract on overall cell viability, motility, and behavior. In research labs, human lung cells grown in tissue culture are commonly used to study the effect of toxins on living cells, but that’s not possible in a classroom. In this lab, students instead look at the protozoan Tetrahymena, a model organism often used in research on health and disease related topics, including ciliary function. This safe, easily grown single-celled protist doesn’t look much like a human. Nonetheless, Tetrahymena’s basic cell processes are very much like those of human cells. Substances that impact Tetrahymena basic cell functions may also interfere with similar human cell functions. For example, substances that affect the function of Tetrahymena cilia that propel the cells through water and sweep food into the mouth can also affect human cilia, like those that help move harmful inhaled material out of the lungs. The lab allows students to experimentally explore for themselves the effects of toxic substances on Tetrahymena viability, motility, and behavior, and to consider possible related effects on human cells.