Life Science- Specialized Cells

Question 1

Ciliates epithelial cell

Answer 1

Animal cell
Found in the lining of the nose, windpipe and lungs.
Function is to carry dust particles and germs away from these areas to keep them healthy.
Cells have tiny hairs called cilia which regularly brush mucus away to move the dust particles. These cells have many mitochondria to make energy for the cilia.

Question 2

Sperm

Answer 2

Animal cell.
Found in the testes of the male.
Function is to carry heritable characteristics (DNA) to the egg when fertilization occurs.
Has a tail to swim up the vagina to find the egg in the Fallopian tube.
Many mitochondria give it energy to swim.
Special chemicals in the head dissolve the ovum’s membrane.
The head contains DNA from the father to the new baby.

Question 3

Root hair

Answer 3

Plant cell.
Found on the surface of plant roots.
Function is to increase the root’s surface area to absorb more water and minerals.
Have long, thin parts. These part reach outwards into the soil to increase the surface area of the root in contact with the soil. Also have very thin cell walls to allow water and nutrients to pass from the soil opinion the root.

Question 4

Palisade

Answer 4

Plant cell
Found in the upper surface of a leaf.
Function is trap sunlight energy during photosynthesis.
Long and shaped like a cylinder. They have many chloroplasts, which contain green pigments called chlorophyll to trap the sun’s energy for photosynthesis. Each cell has a large surface area to increase the area for gaseous exchange.

Question 5

Red Blood

Answer 5

Animal cell
Found in the blood of animals.
Function is to carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
Round flat shape and are thicker at the edges than the middle. Very flexible so they can squeeze through thin blood vessels without breaking. Contain a red pigment called hemoglobin which carries oxygen.