cell specialisation

• how are muscle cells specialised?

  • function is to contract quickly
  • these cells are long & contain mitochondria
• how are root hair cells specialised?

  • big surface area
• how are sperm cells specialised?

  • long tail & streamlined head to help it swim
  • lots of mitochondria
• how are nerve cells specialised?

  • long - covers more distance
  • have branched connections - allows them to connect to other nerve cells & form a network
• how are phloem & xylem cells specialised?

  • form tubes which transport substances e.g. food & water
  • xylem cells are hollow in the centre & phloem cells have very few subcellular structures - allows substances to flow through them
• why do plants need to absorb water?

  photosynthesis
• why do plants need to absorb mineral ions?

  • nitrate ions are needed to make proteins which is needed for growth
  • magnesium ions are used to make chlorophyll which is used for photosynthesis