Lots of kids enjoyed making their own cell using play doh, a petri dish and parafilm at the Edinburgh International Science Festival 2010 and 2011.

The activity was part of the Medical Research Council's lab 'What are scientists made of' at the City Art Centre..

After the kids decided which cell - gut, brain, skin, red blood or muscle - they wanted to make, the scientists were on hand to help them build their cell.

In the meantime scientists explained that:

• Healthy cells make up healthy bodies.
• Wear and tear, disease, injury and infection cause cells to become unhealthy, leading to unhealthy bodies.
• By studying stem cells, scientists can understand how cells become unhealthy.
• Stem cells have the potential to treat unhealthy bodies by replacing unhealthy or dead cells.