Cell Specialisation

What kind of organisms are plants and animals?

Since they contain many different cells; they are multicellular

What are the cells inside plants/animals

They are specialised, meaning they are adapted to perform a specific function

Define specialised cell

A specialised cell is a cell that has a structure that aids its specific function

How do cells specialise?

by undergoing a process known as differentiation

How many sections are there in a sperm cell?

There are 3 sections of a sperm cell: a head, midpiece and tail

Describe how the head of a sperm cell are adapted to its function?

The head contains a nucleus with half the normal number of chromosomes, allowing the sperm cell to fuse with an egg cell to restore the normal chromosome number

Describe how the midpiece

of a sperm cell are adapted to its function?

Describe how the tail

of a sperm cell are adapted to its function?

The tail/flagellum is there for movement inside liquid, making it mobile. The tail rotates, propelling the sperm cell forward and allowing it to move.

What is the purpose/function of a sperm cell?

To fuse with the ovum/ fertilization; found in semen

Describe how the nerve cell is adapted to its function in shape (3)

have an elongated structure which allows them to coordinate information from the brain and spinal cord with the rest of the body

Extensions of the cytoplasm known as dendrites allowing nerve cells to communicate with other nerve cells, muscles and glands

What is the purpose/function of nerve cells

to carry electrical impulse across the body

Describe how the nerve cell is adapted to its function with the axon (2)

Its axon/tail carries said impulse along the body

A myelin sheath is used to insulate the axon to allow quick travelling signal along the nodes of ranvier

How do nerve cells communicate?

Uses electrochemical process to communicate with other cells

Describe how the muscle cell is adapted to its function (2)

They contain muscle filament proteins to slide over each other for muscle contraction. Contains many mitochondria to provide energy for muscle contractions

What are the 3 types of muscle cell types?

heart, smooth and skeletal

What is the purpose of a muscle cell

they're responsible for contraction for movement; found in muscles

How are skeletal muscle cells specialized?

The cells merge so muscle fibres contract in unison

How are ciliated cells adapted to their function?

They are lined with tiny hairs called cilia, which beat and sweep muscle with trapped dust and bacteria back up the throat

What is the purpose of ciliated cells

to stop damage to internal lining; found in lungs and fallopian tubes

How are ovum/ egg cells adapted to their function? (3)

Contains yolk; a food store for new cell formation

Packed with mitochondria, for optimal fertilisation results

What is the purpose of egg cells/ ovum?

To fuse with sperm cell (fertilization), is a female sex cell and is found in the ovaries

How are red blood cells adapted to their function?

They have no nucleus for the purpose of fitting in more haemoglobin

Has a bi

What is haemoglobin

a protein that carries oxygen molecules by binding to them

What is the purpose of a red blood cell?

oxygen transportation

How is a root hair cell adapted to its function? (4)

they have no need for photosynthesis ( they're in the plant root), they have no chloroplasts

Thin cell wall lowers distance, which allows for easy mineral transport

Mitochondria release energy for active transport of mineral ions

What is the purpose of a root hair cell?

allows plant to absorb water and mineral ions from soil

How is a palisade cell adapted to its function

tall, long. allows light to travel long distance through many chloroplasts, which are needed to make food

What is the purpose of a palisade cell

photosynthesis, is found in the top leaves of a plant

How are xylem cells adapted to their function? (5)

Their cells die and hollow out, making a tube

They're one way transport for water/ soluble mineral salt from the roots to the leaves

No walls between cells to form continuous hollow tubes through which water is drawn upwards towards the leaves

Cells contain no organelles or cytoplasm, allowing free passage of water

What is the purpose of a xylem cell?

to transport water and soluble mineral salts from the roots to the leaves

What is the purpose of the phloem cell

Transport of dissolved sugars and amino acids

How are phloem cells adapted to their function?

What does it mean for a cell to have a lot of ribosomes

adapted to make lots of proteins (enzymes or hormones)

What does it mean for a cell to have a lot of mitochondria

transfer energy

What does it mean for a cell to have a weird shape?

increase surface area