The Hidden Beauty of Cells
- Hannah Yoder
- Sep 19, 2018
- 2 min read

My name is Hannah Yoder, 16-year old author and illustrator of “Cellfies: A Cell Biology Coloring Book.”
As a student at a STEM high school in North Carolina’s Research Triangle, I have been fortunate to have had early opportunities to perform cell biology research at a local university, during which I have used advanced molecular biology and microscopy techniques to prepare images of cells (micrographs).
Like many students, I have made presentations at science fairs and won awards for my research.
However, what makes my story unique is that I am also part of a rising generation of SciArtists (Science-Artists).
During the course of my lab experiences, I have come to appreciate micrographs not only for their scientific value, but also as amazing snapshots of life: “cellfies”.

This coloring page was inspired by neural stem cells, which can become any type of cell in the brain.
Artist's Statement: Amorphous shapes, inspired by neural stem cells, are interwoven with sharper edges and finer details, symbolic of differentiated or diseased cells. Like the pluripotent stem cells, our lives can follow many possible paths; however, as in the process of cell differentiation, our ultimate fates are limited by our environment and our own irrevocable choices.
It’s easy to forget that our bodies are more than just skin and bones. We are actually assemblies of smaller units of life normally hidden from the naked eye. Micrographs reveal a truly astounding world of intricate and varied cellular structures that most people don’t get to see.
I strive to reveal the wonder of this world in my art. As if constructing a new organism, I intermix drawings of cell types from different parts of the body (e.g., brain cells with intestine cells) to make a unified whole.
My SciArt also symbolizes the various experiences of human life, e.g., by juxtaposing placenta cells (birth) with cancer cells (death).

Invasion: This coloring page was inspired by lung cancer cells (adenocarcinoma).The thin lines are the cytoskeleton, special parts of the cell that give it shape and allow it to move.
Artist's Statement: This piece illuminates the surprising beauty of cancer (adenocarcinoma) cells. Their intricate arrays of thin, jagged lines connote the abnormal cytoskeletal behavior that drives their relentless invasiveness. The ominous allure of these line elements captures the eye, and reveals the irony of cancer - our own cells subtly and unwillingly turned against us.
Finally, by combining drawings of cells from different species, my pieces show the diversity and universal inter-relatedness of all living things.
In my book, I include not only colorable, black-and-white versions of my art, but also full-color images of the original/actual micrographs that inspired the coloring pages. The book also includes brief explanations, in language accessible to non-scientists and young readers, of how the micrographs were generated and are being used as part of ongoing biomedical research.
I am excited to donate a portion of the profits from the sale of my coloring book to STEM education.
Through my SciArt book, I hope to show that research is not dry and boring, but a wonderful, colorful and very creative process!
Download a copy of the book sample here.
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