6-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
• Nerve cells


  • Long axon to transmit electrical impulses
  • Axon covered in myelin to insulate and speed up transmission
  • Dendrites to increase surface area for connections
• Muscle cells


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