Minecraft

Visualizing Cell Structures with Minecraft

In recent years, the field of cellular biology has witnessed remarkable advancements in three-dimensional (3D) microscopic techniques, such as cryogenic soft x-ray tomography, cryogenic electron tomography (cryo-ET), and focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy, enabling visualization of subcellular structures with resolution in nanometers. The results provide valuable spatial distributions of different organelles and proteins, which can further facilitate the development of more realistic 3D whole-cell models (WCMs) for research and educational purposes, enhancing our understanding of cellular functions and the complicated chemical reactions within cells.

Many microscopic images and simulations of cells give results in different kinds of formats, making it difficult for people lacking computational skills to visualize and interact with them. Minecraft offers a unique solution by allowing the direct insertion of voxel-based (voxels are essentially 3D pixels) cellular structures from light microscopy and simulations into its worlds without modification.

This integration enables Minecraft players to immerse themselves into the cell, navigate through the cytoplasmic membrane, observe the spatial distribution of organelles, and gain a tangible understanding of relative sizes and quantities.

Download these Minecraft CraftCell worlds free at Gitbhub and have fun learning more about cells!

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With their colleagues, researchers, from left, Stephen Boppart, Tianyu Wu, Zaida Luthey-Schulten, Zane Thornburg and Rohit Bhargava, developed CraftCells, a tool for exploring the key physical structures of cells in 3D in the video game Minecraft. Study coauthors Kevin Tan and Seth Kenel are not pictured. Photo by Fred Zwicky