Cell Differentiation and Specialisation

Question 1

What is differentiation

Answer 1

The process which a cell changes to become specialised for its job

Question 2

What are cells that differentiate in mature animals mainly used for?

Answer 2

For repairing and replacjng cells e.g skin or blood cells

Question 3

What are undifferentiated cells called?

Answer 3

Stem cells

Question 4

Name 3 examples of specialised cells:

Answer 4

Speem cells(specialised for reproduction)
Nerve cells(specialised for rapid signalling)
Muscle cells(specialised for contraction)

Question 5

Give one feature of a phloem cell that makes it specialised for its function

Answer 5

They are made of colums of elongated living cells with small pores in the end walls to allow cell sap to flow through

Question 6

Describe how a root hair cell is specialised for its function

Answer 6

They grow into ‘long hairs’ taht stick out into the soil. This gives the plant a big surface area for absorbing water and mineral ions from the soil

Question 7

Where are stem cell found?

Answer 7

In early human embryos

Question 8

Where are adult stem cells found?

Answer 8

Like bone marrow

Question 9

What are 3 reasons some people are against stem cell research?

Answer 9

1. They feel that human embryos shouldn’t be usd for experiments since each one is a potential human life
2. Curing existing patients who are suffering is more important tahn the rights of embryos
3. They feel for the rights of embryos that sciencetists should concentrate more on finding and developing ither sources of stem cells , so people could helped without having to use embryos