Cell Specialisation

• Cell specialization refers to the different functions that cells perform within an organism or tissue.
• What is cell specialisation?


  Cell specialisation is the process where cells develop to carry out specific functions.
• What is another term for cell specialisation?


  Cell differentiation
• What are sperm cells specialised for


  Reproduction
• What is the function of a sperm 


  Getting the male DNA to the female DNA
• How are sperm cells adapted to carry out their function

  -has a long tail and a streamline head to help it swim to the egg

  -there are lots of mitochondria in the cell to provide energy needed

  -it also carries enzymes in its head ( acrosome )to digest through the egg cell membrane
• What are nerve cells specialised for

  Rapid signalling
• What is the function of a nerve cell

  To carry electrical signals from one part of the body to another
• How are nerve cells adapted to form their function

  -these cells have long axons to cover more distance

  -they have branched connections at their ends to connect to other nerve cells and form a network throughout the body

  -contains membrane proteins that carry out active transport of sodium and potassium ions to help ‘recharge‘ the cell

  -has a fatty surrounding myelin sheath that speeds up nerve impulse transmission
• What are muscle cells specialised for 


  Contraction
• What is the function of a muscle cell


  To contract quickly and form movement
• How are muscle cells adapted to form its function

  -these cells are long so that they have space to contract

  -contains lots of mitochondria to generate the energy needed for contraction

  -has long protein filaments that can slide past each other to shorten the cell
• What is a root hair cell specialised for 


  Absorbing water and minerals
• What is the function of a root hair cell

  To absorb water by osmosis and absorb mineral ions by active transport
• How are root hair cells adapted to form its function

  -long projection which speeds up the absorption

  -lots of mitochondria to release energy that it needs to actively transport minerals from cells

  -Has a large surface area to increase rate of absorption
• What is a red blood cell specialised for

  its main function is to carry oxygen from the lungs and deliver it throughout the body, (red blood cells also transport waste such as carbon dioxide back to our lungs to be exhaled)
• What is the function of a red blood cell


  To bind and transport oxygen around the body
• How are red blood cells adapted for its function

  -has a biconcave shape and mo nucleus for a larger surface area

  -Contains a red pigment called haemoglobin to bind to oxygen molecules

  -no nucleus that makes more space for haemoglobin

  -cell membrane are flexible which allows it to squeeze through capillaries
• What are phloem and xylem cells specialised for


  Transporting substances
• What is the function of a phloem and xylem cell


  Phloem transports sucrose and amino acids

  Xylem transports water and mineral salts from the roots up to the other parts of the plant
• How are the phloem and xylem cells adapted for its function

  -both are long and joined end to end to form tubes

  -xylem cells are hollow in the centre and cells are strengthened by lignin (lignin is complex organic polymer with oxygen along with cellulose)

  -phloem cells have very few sub cellular structures so stuff can flow through them
• Specialised cells have a specific role within the organism and are adapted to fulfil its role. They also have special amounts of organelles to be the most efficient at its role.
• How is an egg cell adapted to form its function

  -contains nutrients in the cytoplasm to support the embryo

  -outer layer hardens to prevent entry of sperm after one sperm has entered

  ( sperm and egg cells are hapoids - half of genetic information )
• What is the function of a palisade mesophyll cell

  To carry out photosynthesis in the upper layer of the leaves
• How is a palisade mesophyll cell adapted to carry out its specific function 


  -tall and narrow so many cells can be packed in a leaf

  -many chloroplasts to absorb as much light energy
• Xylem cells lose their top and bottom walls to form a continuous tube through which water moves from the roots to the leaves
• What is a xylem cell specialised for

  Transport of water and dissolved ions
• How is a xylem cell adapted for its specific function 


  -no walls between cells forms a continuous hollow tube where water goes up to the leaves

  -cells have no organelles or cytoplasm allowing free passage of water

  -walls thickened with lignin that strengthens the tube providing support for plant
• Phloem cells are adapted for the transport of dissolved sugars and amino acids
• What is a phloem cell specialised for


  Transport of dissolved sugars and amino acids
• How is a phloem cell adapted for its specific functions


  -cells are joined and contain holes in the end cell walls

  -sieve plates forms tubes that allow substances to flow easily

  -cells have few sub cellular structures to aid the flow of materials