cell differentiation and specialisation

What is a specialised cell?

A cell that performs a specific function

Specialised cells have a specific role in the body and to help fulfill that role they have a specific shape/structure they also have specific amounts of different organelles(e.g mitochondria)

What are the main specialised cells in animals?

Muscle cell

Sperm cell

Nerve cell

What are the main specialised cells in plants?

Root hair cell

Xylem and phloem cells

What are the functions of sperm cells ? Give 4 adaptations and explain

Role is to deliver genetic material to an egg to fertilise it

In nucleus it has half the genetic material as a normal adult cell this is important as it needs to also combine with the eggs genetic material to form and normal cells worth

Sperm cells have a flangellum on the end which lets sperm cell swim through uterus and fallopian tube to reach egg

The cell is streamlined and SC has lots of mitochondria which provide energy for swimming

What are the functions of a nerve cell ?

NC is specialised for rapid signalling the function is to carry electrical signals from one part of the body to another

They have branched connections at their ends to connect to other NC and form a network through the body

What are the functions of muscle cells?

MC are specialised for contraction the function is to contract quickly the cells are long so they have space to contract and contain lots of mitochondria to transfer energy needed for contraction

What is the function of a root hair cell?

RHC are cells in surface of plant roots that are specialised for absorbing water and minerals they grow long hairs to stick out soil to give plant a large surface area for absorbing water and mineral ions from the soil

What are the functions for phloem and xylem cells?

P&XC are specialised for transporting substances they form phloem and xylem tubes which transport substances such as food and water around the plants to form tubes the cells are long and joined end to end

What is the difference in structure between xylem and phloem?

Xylem cells are hollow in centre and phloem cells have very few subcellular structures so that substances can flow through them

What is differentiation?

The process by which a cell changes to become specialised (for its job)

They develop different subcellular structures and turn into different types of a cell

Notes on differentiation

Cells differentiate to become specialised as an organism develops and that differentiation involves cells developing different subcellular structures enabling them to carry out specific function

Process of differentiation ?

Cells divide by mitosis into 2 4 etc

ATP all cells are identical and none are specialised for specific roles yet .

At some point they have to undergo differentiation that turns them into specialised cells