Specialised Cells & Differentiation

• What specialised cells is adapted for transmitting messages from one part of the body, to another?

  nerve cell
• Explain how a sperm cell is adapted for its role? choose 3

  Its role is to deliver genetic material to an egg cell to fertilise it

  It has half as much genetic material as a normal cell, so that the sperm and egg together will have the normal amount

  It has lots of mitochondria to provide the energy for movement

  It has a flagellum to allow it to swim to reach the egg

  It is streamlined to make swimming easier 

  It has digestive enzymes in its head to break through the wall of the egg
• What is 'differentiation'?

  The process by which cells become specialised 
• What cells are adapted to their roles by having a large surface area?

  red blood cells

  root hair cells
• Cells that are adapted to perform a particular function are called what ?

  specialised cells.
• Heart muscle tissue has to be able to beat continually without stopping. What adaptation would you expect heart cells to have?

  A large number of mitochondria