Cell differentiation and specialisation Flashcards
What is differentiation?
Differentiation is the process by which a cell changes to become specialised for its job.
What happens to cells during differentiation?
As cells change, they develop different subcellular structures and turn into different types of cells.
When does most differentiation occur?
Most differentiation occurs as an organism develops.
What happens to the ability to differentiate in most animal cells?
In most animal cells, the ability to differentiate is lost at an early stage after they become specialised.
Do plant cells lose the ability to differentiate?
Lots of plant cells don’t ever lose this ability.
What do cells differentiate into and their uses
they are mainly used for … and … cells, such as .. or blood ….
they are mainly used for repairing and replacing cells, such as skin or blood cells.
What are stem cells?
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells.
What are sperm cells specialised for?
Sperm cells are specialised for reproduction.
What is the function of a sperm cell?
The function of a sperm is to get the male DNA to the female DNA.
A sperm cell has a long tail and a streamlined head to help it swim to the egg, with many mitochondria for energy and enzymes in its head to digest through the egg cell membrane.
What are nerve cells specialised for?
Nerve cells are specialised for rapid signalling.
What is the function of a nerve cell?
The function of nerve cells is to carry electrical signals from one part of the body to another.
These cells are long to cover more distance and have branched connections to connect to other nerve cells.
What are muscle cells specialised for?
Muscle cells are specialised for contraction.
What is the function of a muscle cell?
The function of a muscle cell is to contract quickly.
These cells are long and contain lots of mitochondria to generate energy for contraction.
What are root hair cells specialised for?
Root hair cells are specialised for absorbing water and minerals.
What is the structure of root hair cells?
Root hair cells grow into long ‘hairs’ that stick out into the soil, increasing surface area for absorption.
What are phloem and xylem cells specialised for?
Phloem and xylem cells are specialised for transporting substances.
How do phloem and xylem cells form tubes?
Phloem and xylem cells form tubes that transport substances like food and water.
The cells are long and joined end to end; xylem cells are hollow, while phloem cells have very few subcellular structures.
