CB1C Specialised Cells Flashcards
How is a sperm cell adapted to its function
1) A sperm cell has a long tail so it can swim to the egg
2) It has lots of mitochondria in the middle section to provide the energy (from respiration) needed to swim this distance
It also has an acrosome at the front of the ‘head’, where it stores enzymes needed to digest its way through the membrane of the egg cell
It also contains a haploid nucleus
How is an egg cell adapted to its function:
- It contains nutrients in the cytoplasm to feed the embryo
- It has a haploid nucleus
- Its membrane changes structure to stop any more sperm getting in
What are specialised cells ?
Specialised cells are cells that have a structure which are adapted to a specific function
What happens in sexual reproduction
The nucleus of an egg cell fuses with the nucleus of a sperm cell to create a fertilised egg, which then develops into an embryo
What is a haploid
A haploid contains half the number of chromosomes thats in a normal cell
What is the function of a sperm
To transport the male’s DNA to the female’s egg
What is the function of ciliated epithelial cells
To move substances - the cilia beat to move substances in one direction along the surface of the tissue
What is the main function of an egg
They carry the female DNA and nourish the developing embryo in its early stages
Where are ciliated epithelial cells located and why are they there
The lining of the airways
These help to move mucus and trapped particles up to the throat so it does not get swallowed and does not reach lungs
