animal cell specialisation

• Specialized animal cells


  Cells that have adaptations which help them to carry out a particular function
• Differentiation


  When cells become specialized
• Sperm cells


  • Long tail to swim to ovum
  • Packed with mitochondria to provide energy for swimming
  • Contain enzymes to digest outer layer of ovum
• Fertilization


  The process where the genetic information of the ovum and sperm combine
• Sperm cells only contain half the genetic information of a normal adult cell
• Nerve cells


  • Long axon to transmit electrical impulses
  • Axon covered in myelin to insulate and speed up transmission
  • Cell body has dendrites to increase surface area for connections
• Axon


  Transmits electrical impulses from one part of the body to another
• Synapses


  Allow the nerve impulse to pass from one nerve cell to another
• Muscle cells


  • Contain protein fibers that can contract and shorten the cell
  • Packed with mitochondria to provide energy for contraction
• Muscle cells work together to form muscle tissue