cell differentiation and specialisation

• which cells in plants are specialised for absorbing water and minerals from the soil?

  root hair cells ( found on the surface of plant roots )
• what is the function of a sperm cell?

  to transport the male DNA to the female DNA in eggs for reproduction
• how does the ability to differentiate differ between plant cells and animal cells?

  the ability to differentiate is lost at an early stage in most animal cells, but lots of plant cells don't ever loose this ability.
• what is the function of xylem and phloem cells? and how are they specialised?

  xylem and phloem cells function to transport water and minerals up the plant. hollow are specialised as the cell are long and joined end to end forming hollow tubes. substances can flow through them. phloem cells have very few sub cellar structures so stuff can't flow through them
• what is the function of a nerve cell? and how are they adapted for its function?

  a nerve cell carries electrical impulses from one party of the body to another. the cell is long and has branched connections at its ends to connect to other nerve cells and form networks. this allows for rapid signalling.
• what is differentiation?


  is the process by which a cell changes to become specialised for its job.
• in most animal cells, the ability to differentiate is lost at an early stage, after they become specialised. however plant cells don't ever loose this ability.
• what is the function of a root hair cells and how is it adapted for this function?

  root hair cells are on the surface of plant roots, they are long hair that stick out into the soil. this gives the plant a big surface area for absorbing water and mineral ions.