cell specialisation + differentiation Flashcards
Describe how sperm cells in animals are adapted to their function
● Haploid nucleus contains genetic information.
● Tail enables movement to the ovum.
● Mitochondria provide energy for tail movement.
● Acrosome contains enzymes that digest the egg cell membrane.
Describe how nerve cells in animals are adapted to their function
● Long axon allows electrical impulses to be transmitted all over the body from the nervous system.
● Dendrites from the cell body connects to and receive impulses from other nerve cells
● Myelin sheath insulates the axon and speeds up the transmission of impulses along the cell.
● synapses, which are junctions which allow the impulse to pass from one nerve cell to another
Describe how muscle cells in animals are adapted to their function
● protein fibres allow them to slide over each other to produce muscle contraction.
● Mitochondria to provide energy for muscle
contraction.
● Merged cells in skeletal muscle allow muscle fibre contraction in unison
Describe how root hair cells in plants are adapted to their function
● Large surface area to absorb nutrients and water from surrounding soil.
● Thin walls that do not restrict water absorption.
Describe how xylem cells in plants are adapted to their function
● No upper or lower margins between cells to provide a continuous route for water to flow.
● Thick, woody side walls with lignin (causes them to die) strengthen their structure and prevent collapse.
Describe how phloem cells in plants are adapted to their function
● Sieve plates let dissolved amino acids and sugars be transported up and down the stem.
● Companion cells provide energy needed for active transport of substances along the phloem.
What is cell differentiation?
The process by which cells becomes differentiated, through specialisation
Why is cell differentiation important?
Allows production of different tissues and organs that perform various vital functions in the human body
At what point in their life cycle do most animal cells differentiate?
Early in their life cycle
For how long do plant cells retain the ability to differentiate?
Throughout their entire life cycle
What is the purpose of cell division in mature animals?
Repair and replacement of cells
What changes does a cell go through as it differentiates?
- gains different sub-cellular structures to enable a specific function to be performed by the cell.
How are cells specialised?
they have adaptations to help them carry out their particular function
