Euglena is a type of single-celled flagellate Eukaryote, they are found in fresh and salt waters where they may bloom in large numbers and colour the surface of ponds and ditches green (E. viridis) or red (E. sanguinea). Euglena are frequently used in the laboratory as a model organisms. Cellular level art, paint on silk, digitised.

What we commonly refer to today as Mitochondria German pathologist and histologist Richard Altmann in 1890 termed “bioblasts” (life germs), he believed they were autonomous elementary organisms responsible for metabolic and genetic functions. Cellular level art, paint on silk, digitised.

The level of energy of different cells varies. The mitochondria, responsible for the energy production have in this picture two different energy states, represented by gold and silver. Cellular level art, paint on silk, digitised.

The Golgi, Golgi apparatus or Golgi complex is found in most cells, it is the orange structure in this image. It is a packaging organelle and was named after Camillo Golgi, an Italian biologist. The Golgi complex gathers simple molecules and combines them to make complex molecules, then taking those complex molecules to vesicles. Once the complex cell has been delivered to the vesicle it may be stored there or sent out of the cell. Cellular level art, paint on silk, digitised.

A vacuole is a membrane-bound organelle which is present in all plant and fungal cells and some animal and bacterial cells. Vacuoles are essentially enclosed compartments which are filled with water. The vacuoles are the orange structures within this image of a cell, they are surrouned by the endoplasmic reticulum (blue) and mitochondria (purple). Cellular level art, paint on silk, digitised.

Banded iron formations (BIFs) contain well developed iron-rich thin alternating layers or laminations as seen here. This formation occurs due to the lack of burrowing species in the Precambrian period in which this sedimentary rock was created. The name comes from the various coloured layers. Cellular level art, paint on silk, digitised.

Cellular level art, paint on silk, digitised.

Artistic interpretation of a single ebola virus particle which is shaped to spell the word 'help'. The ebola virus belongs to the Filoviridae family of viruses and causes ebola virus disease (EVD) or ebola haemorrhagic fever in humans. Symptoms of this often fatal illness include sudden onset of fever, headache, joint and muscle pain, sore throat and intense muscle weakness followed by diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach pain, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases internal and external bleeding. Ebola virus disease first appeared during outbreaks in Africa in the mid-1970s. The virus spreads between humans through direct contact with infected blood, secretions and organs, or with surfaces or bedding already contaminated with these fluids. Ebola virus particles (virions) are cylindrical or tubular in shape and can be up to 1000 nm long and 80 nm in diameter. They have glycoproteins projecting from the surface in 7 - 10 nm spikes. The virus carries a negative sense RNA genome which is about 18 - 19 Kb long. Cellular level art, paint on silk, digitised.

The level of energy of different cells varies. The mitochondria, responsible for the energy production have in this picture two different energy states, represented by gold and silver. Cellular level art, paint on silk, digitised.

Large oocyte ‘The beginning of a self’ Inside the ovary is an immature ovum or oocyte (egg cell). The oocyte is a cell in an ovary which may undergo meiotic division to form an ovum. Cellular level art, paint on silk, digitised.

The thinking neurons In the early 20th century Spanish scientist Santiago Ramón y Cajal known as 'Cajal' drew the first observed neurons as black shapes. The artist paints them here full of colour. Cajal was a talented artist and made extensive studies of neural materials. Neurons or nerve cells are the core components of the brain and spinal cord of the central nervous system (CNS), and of the ganglia of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) controlling many motor and sensory functions of the body. Cellular level art, paint on silk, digitised.

The Map of Health This image shows a map of the world with each area made up of human tissue relating to the main health problems within those areas. North America struggles with rising obesity, and therefore this area is made up of adipose tissue (fat). Central and South America are represented by pulmonary tissue (lungs); smoking and respiratory infections are a leading cause of death here. Europe, with its ageing population, suffers greatly from neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia (neurones, brain tissue). Large areas of the middle East and central Asia are shown here as cardiac muscle (heart), as these regions are afflicted with rising levels of hypertension and other causes of heart and cardiovascular failure. The far East and the Pacific are made up of pancreatic acinar tissue; its failure causes diabetes, a major problem in this area, frequently described as a diabetes epidemic. And Africa is made of blood here. The only continent where the leading cause of death are transmittable diseases (infections), notably malaria and HIV. There are 5 hidden mitochondria in the map. They are the organelles inside our cells responsible for energy generation. Mitochondrial research will play an important role over the coming years! Cellular level art, paint on silk, digitised.