topic 1 - differentiation

• Differentiation is the process in which a cell becomes specialised to perform a specific function
• Animals lose the ability to differentiate early on
• Plants don't ever lose the ability to differentiate
• In mature animals cells are mainly used to replace and repair cells
• Undifferentiated cells are called stem cells
• sperm cells are specialised for reproduction
• What features does sperms cells have?

  long tails, streamlined heads and Lots of mitochondria to help it swim to the egg.
• Nerve cells are specialised to carry electrical impulses around the body
• What features does nerve cell have?

  long and have branched connections at the end to connect them and form a network
• Muscle cells are specialised for contraction
• What features does muscle cells have?

  long and contain lots of mitochondria to generate the energy need to contract
• Root hair cells are specialised for absorbing minerals and water
• What features does root hair cell have?

  big surface area for absorbing water and minerals in the soil
• Phloem and xylem cells are specialised for transporting substances like water and food
• What features does phloem and xylem cells have?

  xylem cells are hollow in the centre and phloem have few subcellular structure