The organelles in a cell are not strictly fixed in position, as can be observed during the high speed playback of this time-lapse sequence. Even nuclei, which are generally located somewhere near the central region of a cell, experience significant freedom of movement. The nucleus of an LLC-MK2 epithelial cell (located slightly to the right of the center point of the field of view in the first part of the video) spins in circles like a top. The changes in the position of the organelle are easy to observe by following the path of the nucleoli it contains. Other instances of nuclear movement can be observed among the cells, though not to the same degree.

The mitochondria present in the LLC-MK2 cells also prove themselves to be dynamic entities. During the high speed playback of live cell time-lapse sequences, mitochondria have a flexible, granular appareance and can be observed moving about the cytoplasm. At any given instant, however, the organelles seem like static entities under the under the light microscope. Even in textbooks, many depictions of mitochondria give the impression that the organelles have a fixed shape and are inert.

Several LLC-MK2 cells undergo cell division during this time-lapse sequence. Characteristic changes in shape make it simple to identify specific cells that are preparing to undergo the process. Immediately prior to the event, most animal cells in culture retract all of their surface protrusions and roughly assume the shape of a sphere. Following cytokinesis, the resultant daughter cells typically quickly lose the spherical form as they settle on the substratum.