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What Organelle Are You Based on Your Favorite 2000s Movie?

November 8, 2024

Have you ever wondered what organelle you’d be in a cell? Just like characters in iconic 2000s movies, organelles have unique roles that contribute to the cell’s life story. Take a look at the movies below and find out which one matches your style. From managing all the work in the cell like “The Devil Wears Prada,” to keeping everyone energized like “The Incredibles,” here’s your ultimate guide!

  1. Mean Girls (2004) – Nucleus

Quote: “That’s why her hair is so big; it’s full of secrets.”

If Mean Girls is your jam, you’re definitely the Nucleus. Just like Regina George, you’re the center of attention, calling the shots and directing everyone around you. The nucleus is where all the DNA is stored, holding the key to the cell’s identity and future. Just as Regina’s word determines who’s “in” or “out,” the nucleus controls which genes are expressed, setting the tone for everything the cell does.

  1. The Devil Wears Prada (2006) – Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

Quote: “Details of your incompetence do not interest me.”

Love The Devil Wears Prada? Then you might be the Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)! Like Miranda Priestly’s finely tuned office, the ER is responsible for protein and lipid synthesis, making sure everything runs smoothly. The rough ER even has ribosomes attached—just like Miranda has assistants—to help with the workload. Your organizational skills are unmatched, and everyone in the cell (or office) depends on you to get things done.

  1. Finding Nemo (2003) – Mitochondria

Quote: “Just keep swimming!”

If Finding Nemo is your favorite 2000s movie, you’re definitely the Mitochondria! Known as the powerhouse of the cell, the mitochondria provide energy, keeping everyone going, just like Dory’s endless optimism. You’re always there to keep things running smoothly, and you don’t give up, even when the current gets strong. Adventure and resilience are your strong suits—just like Dory’s!

  1. The Incredibles (2004) – Golgi Apparatus

Quote: “We get there when we get there!”

Fans of The Incredibles are a perfect fit for the Golgi Apparatus. This organelle sorts, packages, and ships proteins to their final destinations, making it just as dependable and versatile as the Parr family. You’re all about teamwork and keeping everything organized, just like how Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl manage their superhero family. Plus, you know how to handle the pressure of saving the day (or cell).

  1. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) – Lysosome

Quote: “You best start believing in ghost stories, Miss Turner… you’re in one!”

If you’re a Pirates of the Caribbean fan, you’re the Lysosome! The lysosome’s job is to break down waste and unwanted material, a bit like Captain Jack Sparrow sailing through rough seas and obstacles. Just as Jack finds clever ways to solve problems, the lysosome is like the cell’s cleanup crew, digesting whatever needs breaking down. You thrive in chaos and love a good challenge, no matter how messy things get.

  1. Shrek (2001) – Cell Membrane

Quote: “Ogres are like onions; they have layers.”

If you’re a Shrek fan, you’re the Cell Membrane. Like Shrek’s swamp, the cell membrane has layers and acts as a boundary, deciding what can come in and out. It keeps the cell safe, much like Shrek’s protective nature, and is essential for maintaining stability. You’re a no-nonsense protector who values boundaries and has no problem saying, “This is my swamp!”

  1. Legally Blonde (2001) – Ribosome

Quote: “What, like it’s hard?”

If you love Legally Blonde, you’re definitely the Ribosome. The ribosome is the site of protein synthesis, which means it’s constantly producing new things, just like Elle Woods is always working toward her goals. No challenge is too big for you, and you can handle multitasking like a pro. You’re both hard-working and underestimated, always ready to prove yourself with a “bend and snap!”

  1. High School Musical (2006) – Cytoplasm

Quote: “We’re all in this together!”

If High School Musical is your top pick, you’re the Cytoplasm. The cytoplasm is like the cell’s main environment, where everything happens. It supports the organelles, keeps everyone connected, and ensures that the cell is functioning properly. Just like the Wildcats, you’re all about teamwork and unity, providing a safe space for everyone to thrive. Your mantra? We’re all in this together!

Each organelle has a role to play, just like each character in a classic 2000s movie. So, which organelle are you?

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  Timothy Durham was convicted of rape when a test showed his DNA genotype matched the DNA recovered from the crime scene. Eye witnesses testified that Durham was in a different state at the time of the incident, but he wasn’t exonerated from his 3000 year sentence until follow up DNA analysis showed that the preliminary forensic analysis used in the trial was misinterpreted (Thomas et al.). DNA testing serves an invaluable part in our criminal justice system, but it comes with complications and bias that can lead to wrongful convictions and misinformed juries.  

Background:

Forensic genetics aims to identify the origin of a biological sample. It can be traced back to Karl Landsteiner who discovered human ABO blood groups. With blood groups, suspects could be eliminated based on their blood type. For example, if a suspect had type A blood and there was type B blood left at the scene by the perpetrator, the investigators could rule out the suspect. Unfortunately, the reverse didn’t work. If the suspect and perpetrator both had the same blood type, it can’t be concluded that the suspect was guilty. Blood identifiers evolved into 8 distinct categories which improved the ability to eliminate suspects, but could only conclude that (if the system matched) it might be the perpetrator or this person might be related to the perpetrator (Jobling and Gill). The field evolved in the 1980s with the discovery of Minisatellites, lines of repetitive DNA that don’t encode proteins. Minisatellite patterns in DNA create what we know today as the DNA fingerprint, and it has a much higher accuracy rate than previous methods (Augustyn et al.). Around the same time, a breakthrough for victims of sexual assault was discovered. In the case of assault, bodily fluids of both the victim and the assaulter can get mixed. A process called differential lysis was created which could selectively increase the concentration of sperm in a fluid sample thereby allowing for accurate DNA testing (Jobling and Gill). Forensics evolved to use single-locus probe testing after several years because of its ease of interpretation. It looked at specific minisatellites that had high variability between subjects. This was the first DNA-based method to be used in a criminal investigation. Two murder homicides from several years apart were connected using DNA evidence. The evidence was then used to exonerate an innocent man, and the guilty party was found when he tried to evade mandatory DNA testing for all men in the small town. His guilt was then reinforced when the DNA profiles matched, and he gave a confession (Jobling and Gill). Finding DNA at a crime scene doesn’t guarantee that you’ll find a murderer. There are issues with non-pure samples and limited samples that make DNA work difficult, and accreditation of facilities and new techniques and take time (Jobling and Gill).  

Subjectivity of DNA Interpretation:

In a 2009 publication, the National Academy of Science discusses the possibility for subjective influence in lab based forensics. The interpretation bias happens in complex cases where, for example, there could be a mixture of DNA. A study published in 2011 looked specifically at this issue. A gang rape happened in Georgia, and the mixture in DNA from the case was used to prosecute one suspect after another suspect took a plea bargain to testify against him. With DNA mixtures, there are three possible conclusions: suspect excluded, suspect cannot be excluded, and inconclusive. If the suspect is excluded, it means that there’s little to no possibility that his DNA is part of the sample. If the suspect cannot be excluded, it means that there’s a possibility that his DNA is part of the sample. In the trial, the DNA examiners who knew the context of the case concluded that the suspect being prosecuted could not be excluded. The 2011 study gave the DNA evidence from this case and the DNA profiles of the suspects to 17 forensic examiners. These examiners had no context of the case, and they all worked independently. Of the 17, only 1 came to the same conclusion (suspect cannot be excluded) as the examiners who knew the context of the case. Twelve of the 17 concluded that the suspect who was prosecuted and convicted had no relation to the DNA found in the sample. Not only does this show that subjectivity occurs due to the context of the case, but the 17 examiners came up with different findings based on their past experiences meaning that not all DNA analysis is objective. Some organizations like the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods say that quantitative statistical evidence should be presented with every categorical conclusion, but the US doesn’t require this (Dror and Hampikian).

False Positives:

There are two categories that cause wrongful identification in a DNA report: coincidental matches and false positives. Coincidental matches are DNA matches between two unrelated people. The probability of these matches is about 1 to 500,000 for white individuals and about 1 to 350,000 for black individuals. This small probability of coincidental matches makes people feel confident in DNA evidence. False positives, on the other hand, are matches between DNA and test DNA that result from issues in the forensics lab. There have been multiple cases of forensics labs accidentally switching victim and suspected rapist DNA which lead to convictions that were later overturned when the lab realized the error. There are also cases of misreading or misunderstanding a sample. In a case from 1993, a man was convicted of rape because someone interpreted a mixed sample of victim and perpetrator DNA as an individual sample. The conviction was again overturned. To prevent false convictions, retesting DNA is allowed, but it’s not an efficient solution. Many people are pushing for statistical information on the probability of false positives, so that the jurors can make accurate judgements based on DNA evidence (Thomas et al.).  

Conclusion:

DNA analysis is a useful tool for the criminal justice system, but subjectivity can be an issue in forensic testing. To combat wrongful convictions, there are organizations like The Innocence Project who use DNA testing to free the innocent, but reformed forensic testing standards should be put in place to prevent subjectivity and to ensure juries are correctly informed during trials. https://www.innocenceproject.org/    

Citation:

Augustyn , Adam, et al. “DNA Finerprinting.” Encyclopedia Britannica , 26 Apr. 2018, www.britannica.com/science/DNA-fingerprinting#ref153186. Dror, Itiel E., and Greg Hampikian. “Subjectivity and Bias in Forensic DNA Mixture Interpretation.” Science & Justice, vol. 51, no. 4, 2011, pp. 204–208., doi:10.1016/j.scijus.2011.08.004. Jobling, Mark A., and Peter Gill. “Encoded Evidence: DNA in Forensic Analysis.” Nature Reviews: Genetics, vol. 5, no. 10, Oct. 2004, pp. 739–751., doi:10.1038/nrg1455. Thompson, William C, et al. “How the Probability of a False Positive Affects the Value of DNA Evidence.” Journal of Forensic Sciences, vol. 48, no. 1, Jan. 2003, pp. 1–8., doi:10.1520/jfs2001171.