Specialized plant and animal cells

• Different specialized Plant and Animal cells

  • Nerve cells
  • Red blood cells
  • Smooth muscle
  • Fat (adipose) cells
  • Intestinal epithelial cells
  • Striated muscle cells
  • Bone tissue with osteocytes
  • Loose connective tissue with fibroblasts
• Cell differentiation


  1. Multi cell organisms have a collection of different types of cells doing specialized jobs

  2. All cells have the same dna information but are not all alike as they develop in different ways to perform certain functions
• Stem cells


  • Unspecialized, with the ability to express all genes so it can become any type of specialized cell (Jack of all trades)
  • Until a stem cell becomes specialized, all of its genes for all specializations are switched on
  • Once becoming specialized most genes will be switched off and only the genes associated with the specific differentiation will be turned on
• Types of stem cells

  • Embryonic stem cells
  • Adult stem cells
  • Meristematic cells
• Embryonic stem cells


  • Found in embryos less than one week old
  • Differentiate into any type of cell
• Adult stem cells


  • Found in skin, blood, brain
  • Can differentiate into many but not all cell types
  • Most adult stem cells are involved in the replacement of damaged tissue (regenerates liver, kidney and brain cells)
• Meristematic cells


  • Unlike animal cells, plant cells retain the ability to differentiate throughout their life
  • Plant stem cells are called meristematic cells and are found in the growing tips of roots and stems