Section 1.3 Specialised Cells Flashcards
What is meant by a specialised cell?
When a cell becomes specialised, the structure is adapted to suit a particular function
List the specialised features of a fat cell.
- Small amounts of cytoplasm
- Few mitochondria
- They can expand
Why do fat cells have small amounts of cytoplasm?
So they have space to store large amounts of fat
Why do fat cells have few mitochondria?
The cell doesn’t not require much energy
Why can fat cells expand?
It expands so that is can store more fat
List the specialised features of a cone cells from human eye.
- Outer segment contains a special chemical called
visual pigment - The middle segment filled with mitochondria
- Specialised synapses that connect to the optic nerve
Why do cone cells have an outer segment with visual pigment?
It changes chemically in coloured light allowing organisms to see colours
Why do cone cells have a middle segment full of mitochondria?
The visual pigment needs a lot of energy, therefore it needs a lot of mitochondria to provide the energy
Why do cone cells have specialised synapses that connect to the optic nerve?
When the visual pigment changes chemically in coloured light, a nerve impulse is made and sent to the optic nerve by the specialised synapses
List the specialised features of a root hair cell.
- Root hairs increase surface area
- Large permanent vacuole
Why do root hair cells need to increase surface area?
To allow water to move into the cell more easily
Why do root hair cells have a large permanent vacuole?
To speed up the movement of water by osmosis from soil to root hair cell
List the specialised features of a sperm cell.
- Long tail
- Middle section full of mitochondria
- Acrosome with digestive enzymes
- Large nucleus
Why do sperm cells have a long tail?
The tail whips from side to side and helps move the sperm towards the egg
Why do sperm cells have a middle section full of mitochondria?
To provide energy for the tail to move towards the egg
