Cell specialization

Question 1

What is the egg cell used for, where is it found and how is it specialised?

Answer 1

Reproduction.
ovaries
Largest cell
contains half the mother’s genes.
lots of mitochondria

Question 2

What is the sperm cell used for, where is it found and how is it specialised?

Answer 2

Reproduction
testes
Smallest cell, contains half the father’s genes
Tail for swimming

Question 3

What is the red blood cell used for, where is it found and how is it specialised?

Answer 3

Carrying O2 around the body.
blood vessels.
lots of haemogloblin, red protein that can combine with oxygen.
biconcave shape to bend and get around quickly
2 million are born and die each second.
No nucleus more space for haemoglobin

Question 4

where are nerve cells found and how are they specialised?

Answer 4

brain + spinal column
long fibre- axon
insulated w/ fatty myelin sheath to the impulse’s speed

Question 5

What is the muscle cell used for and how is it specialised?

Answer 5

protein filaments slide over each other to cause muscle contraction.
Lots of mitochondria
Can do aerobic or anaerobic respiration

Question 6

What is the palisade cell used for, where is it found and how is it specialised?

Answer 6

Main photosynthesis site
leaves
Many chloroplasts
regular shape

Question 7

What is the root hair cell used for and how is it specialised?

Answer 7

Absorbing water/nutrients from ground
Long thin hair extends from cell, so larger SA
Thin walls- short diffusion distance
large vacuole 4 water storage

Question 8

What is the xylem cell used for, where is it found and how is it specialised?

Answer 8

transports water
vascular bundle
Dead bc of lignin added to walls
reduced internal structure

Question 9

What is the phloem cell used for, where is it found and how is it specialised?

Answer 9

transports photosynthesis products
phloem tissue in vascular bundle
no nucleus
holes at ends for continuous movement of water w/ sugar + minerals

Question 10

What are ciliated epithelial cells used for, where are they found and how are they specialised?

Answer 10

Prevent germs entering respiratory system
respiratory system lining
Thin hairs - cilia - covered in mucus to trap bacteria
waft mucus to the stomach to be destroyed in HCL

Question 11

What are cone cells used for, where are they found and how are they specialised?

Answer 11

eyes
detects light
Outer segment filled w/ visual pigment
lots of mitochondria
links up w/ a nerve cell

Question 12

What are fat cells used for, where are they found and how are they specialised?

Answer 12

Store fat
fat tissue
Very little cytoplasm, size can increase, contains energy store

Question 13

What are guard cells used for, where are they found and how are they specialised?

Answer 13

Used to control the amount of water lost in transpiration

Found in pairs, banana shape, ability to change shape, contains chloroplasts

Question 14

What are stem cells?

Answer 14

Stem cells are unspecialised cells with the ability to duplicate / or duplicate and specialise

Question 15

What type of cells can embryonic stem cells differentiate into?

Answer 15

Any type

Question 16

What type of cells can umbilical cord stem cells differentiate into?

Answer 16

blood

Question 17

What type of cells can normal stem cells differentiate into?

Answer 17

The type of cell from the tissue they are found in

Question 18

Where are embryonic stem cells found?

Answer 18

blastocyst
3-5 days after fertilisation

Question 19

What is an immunosuppressant?

Answer 19

drugs that suppresses the immune system so it won’t reject foreign tissue

Question 20

Where are stem cells found in plants?

Answer 20

The meristem- the roots and shoots

Question 21

What diseases are stem cells being used to cure?

Answer 21

Parkinson’s and diabetes, specifically type 1

Also age related sight loss and paralysis

Question 22

What are therapeutic stem cells?

Answer 22

stem cells grown from half the patient’s nucleus and a donated egg-vice versa with a female patient
no need for immunosuppressants

Question 23

Why can plant stem cells be useful?

Answer 23

disease immunity, protect rare species, indentical plants 4 research,

Question 24

What is binary fission?

Answer 24

asexual reproduction in bacteria
1 organism->splits->2