CB2b- Growth in Animals

• What is growth?

  An increase of size due to an increase of number of cells.
• What is differentiation?

  The process by which a cell changes to become specialised for its job
• What is a specialised cell?

  A cell which has adapted unique features to perform its function
• Give 3 examples of specialized animal cells

  Answers could be:

  • Red blood cells
  • egg and sperm cells
  • nerve cells
  • bone cells
• State 3 ways how the structure of a red blood cell is specialised for its function

  -Has a bioncave disk shape

  -No nucleus

  -Has haemoglobin
• How does the bioncave disk shape help the red blood cell?

  It gives it a large surface area to absorb a lot of oxygen, because a RBC's job is to carry oxygen around the body.
• How does having no nucleus help the red blood cell?

  It allows the RBC to save more space for oxygen
• How does having haemoglobin help the red blood cell?

  To make oxyhaemoglobin which releases oxygen around the body.
• Explain why cell differentiation is important for the development of specialised cells

  So that cells can become specialised for a particular function and carry out this function in the most efficient way
• How is the 'right rate' for growth measured

  Percentile curves on growth charts