Specialised Cells & Differentiation

• What are specialized cells?

  Cells that perform specific functions
• What is the process by which cells become specialized?

  Differentiation
• What types of organisms have specialized cells?

  Complex organisms like animals and plants
• How many types of specialized cells are there in humans?

  About 200 types
• What is the role of a sperm cell?

  To deliver genetic material to an egg cell
• Why does a sperm cell have half the genetic material of a normal cell?

  To combine with the egg's genetic material
• What adaptation helps sperm cells swim?

  The tail-like structure called a flagellum
• Why are mitochondria important for sperm cells?

  They provide energy for swimming
• What do sperm cells have at the front to aid fertilization?

  Digestive enzymes to penetrate the egg
• How do specialized cells differ in shape and structure?

  They are adapted for different roles in the body
• What is differentiation?

  The process by which cells become specialized
• What is a zygote?

  A fertilized egg cell
• What happens to the zygote after fertilization?

  It divides by mitosis into multiple cells
• What is the state of cells after several divisions post-fertilization?

  They are all identical and not specialized
• What does differentiation involve for a cell?

  Changing shape, structure, and organelle composition
• What are stem cells?

  Cells that can divide and differentiate
• What are the adaptations of sperm cells for their function?

  • Half the genetic material
  • Tail for swimming
  • Streamlined shape
  • Lots of mitochondria for energy
  • Digestive enzymes for penetrating the egg
• What are the key characteristics of specialized cells?

  • Specific roles in the body
  • Unique shapes and structures
  • Different organelle compositions
• What is the process of differentiation in humans?

  1. Starts as a zygote (fertilized egg)
  2. Divides by mitosis into identical cells
  3. Cells undergo differentiation
  4. Become specialized cells (muscle, nerve, etc.)