Differentiation and Specialised Cells

• Specialized cells


  Different types of cells that make up complex organisms like animals and plants
• Examples of specialized cells in animals

  • Sperm cells
  • Muscle cells
  • Nerve cells
• Examples of specialized cells in plants

  • Root hair cells
  • Phloem cells
  • Xylem cells
• Sperm cell


  • Has half the genetic material of a normal adult cell
  • Has a flagellum to swim
  • Is streamlined to swim
  • Has many mitochondria for energy
  • Has digestive enzymes to break into egg
• Specialized cells


  Have a specific role, shape, structure and organelle composition to fulfill that role
• Differentiation


  The process by which cells become specialized
• Differentiation


  1. Single cell (zygote) divides

  2. Cells remain identical at first

  3. Cells then undergo differentiation
• Stem cells


  Cells that can repeatedly divide by mitosis and differentiate into different specialized cell types
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