Cell Specialisation Flashcards
Cells can differentiate in a number of ways, with changes to: (3)
- The number of a particular organelle
- The shape of a cell
- Some of the contents of a cell
Differentiation
-The changes occurring in cells of a multicellular organism so that each different type of cell becomes specialised to perform a specific function
Where are blood cells made ? :D
From undifferentiated stem cells in bone marrow
Erythrocytes (red blud cells) (4)
- Cells that become erythrocytes lose their nucleus, mitochondria, Golgi apparatus and rough endoplasmic reticulum
- They be packed with bare haemoglobin
- Shape changes to become biconcave
- Can transport oxygen
Specialisation of sperm cells (4)
Organelle content:
-Has many mitochondria for movement of undulipodia
-Sperm head contains a specialised lysosome to produce enzymes to break down egg cell wall
Shape wise:
-Small, long and thin to ease movement drag
-Undulipodium propels the cell up the uterine track to the egg
Specialisation of root hair cells
Have hair like projections into soil to increase surface area for water and mineral absorption
Specialisation of neutrophils (white blood cells)
- Keep their nucleus
- Cytoplasm appears granular as a plethora of lysosomes are produced
- Lysosomes produce the enzymes that kill pathogens
Organs
A collection of tissues working together to perform a particular function
Tissues
A collection of cells that are similar to each other and perform a similar function
Organ systems
Consists of a number of organs working together to perform an overall life function
Xylem cells (6)
- Transport water and mineral ions
- Walls thickened with woody substance called lignin, which helps to support the vessel by preventing it from caving in
- Formed from single columns of cells
- Cells are dead without a cytoplasm
- No end walls producing an uninterrupted tube
- Only composed of one type of cell
Phloem cells (5)
- Composed of a number of cells including companion cells and sieve tube elements
- Transport dissolved solutes such as sucrose and amino acids
- Joined end end to end to form tubes but cells are separated by sieve plates which allow solutes to pass through
- Adjacent cells in the tubes are connected through the sieve plate by cytoplasm
- Cells are living
Companion cells
Actively moves sucrose out of neighbouring photosynthesizing cells to the sieve tubes to carry out their functions