Cell Differentiation And Specialisation

Question 1

How do cells become specialised

Answer 1

• They differentiate
• Differentiation is the process by which a cell changes to become specialised for its job
• They develop different sub cellular structures and turn into different types of cells
• allowing them to carry out specific functions

Question 2

When does differentiation occur

Answer 2

• as an organism develops
• In most animal cells, lost at an early stage, after they become specialised
• some plant cells don’t lose this ability
• Some cells are undifferentiated cells - Stem cells

Question 3

Why are sperm cells specialised

Answer 3

• specialised for reproduction
• their function is to get the male DNA to the female DNA
• It has a long tail and a streamlined heat to help it swim to the egg
• Lots of mitochondria in the cell to provide the energy needed
• It also carried enzymes in its head to digest through the egg cell membrane

Question 4

Why are nerve cells specialised

Answer 4

• Their function is to carry electrical signals from one part of the body to another
• These cells are long (to cover more distance)
• have branched connections at their ends to connect to other nerve cells and form a network throughout the body

Question 5

Why are muscle cells specialised

Answer 5

• their function is to contract quickly
• They are long (so that they have space to contract)
• Contain lots of mitochondria to generate the energy needed for contraction

Question 6

Why are root hair cells specialised

Answer 6

• specialised for absorbing water and minerals
• they are on the surface of the roots, they have long “hairs” that stick out into the soil
• This gives the plant a big surface area for absorbing water and mineral ions from the soil

Question 7

Why are the phloem and xylem cells specialised

Answer 7

• specialised for transporting substances
• phloem and xylem cells form phloem and xylem tubes, which transport substances such as food and water around the plant
• to form the tubes, the cells are long and joined end to end
• Xylem cells are hollow in the centre and phloem cells have very few sub cellular structures, so that stuff can flow through them