Cell specialisation

• Sperm cell (animal cell)

  • They contain half of the genetic information of a normal adult cell in the nucleus
  • They have a long tail allowing them to swim to the egg cell- streamlined so it's easier
  • Have lots of mitochondria, providing the energy for it to swim
  • Contain enzymes allowing them to digest their way through the outer layer of the egg cell

  
• Nerve cell (animal cell)

  sends electrical impulses around the body

  -The axon carries the electrical impulses from one part of the body to another

  -The myelin insulates the axon speeding up the transferring of nerve impulses.

  -Synapse at end of axon to allow impulse to pass from one nerve cell to another

  -Dendrites increase the surface area for nerve cells to connect more easily

  -Long and thin to for nerve cells to sends messages to one another.

  
• Muscle cell (animal cell)

  contract and work together to form muscle tissue

  • contain protein fibres to change their length: shorten when contract to decrease length of the cell
  • Contain loads of mitochondria providing energy for muscle contraction

  
• Root hair cell (plant cell)

  • Hairs in roots to increase surface area of the root to absorb water and dissolved minerals more effectively.
  • Don’t contain chloroplasts as they are underground

  
• Phloem cells (plant cell)

  • phloem vessel cells got no nucleus and only limited cytoplasm.
  • End walls of phloem vessel cells have pores called sieve plates both allowing dissolved sugars to move through the cell interior.
  • Each vessel contains a companion cell connected by pores. -Mitochondria in companion cell provide energy to the phloem vessel cell.

  
• • Xylem cells (plant cell)
  • Thick walls containing lignin giving the plant support
  • end walls between cells have broken down forming a long tube so water and dissolved minerals can flow easily
  • No internal structure making it easier for water and minerals to flow