Specialised Cells

Cell Differentiation
You will need to know:

The difference between specialised and unspecialised cells.

What cell differentiation is.

Specialised cells:

A specialised cell is when a cell has certain features that make it very good at its job.

Cell differentiation:

Cell differentiation is when an unspecialised cell becomes specialised.

Before you were born, you started as just a bunch of cells! These cells were stem cells. Your
DNA had told certain cells to change their appearance and contents, to become specialised!
When specialised cells start to form, then things like skin and bones can start forming -
making you!

Specialised Cells
Here are all the specialised cells that you’ll need to know for your GCSE exams.

You will need to know:

Their function (job)

Where they are found

What they look like

How they are adapted for their function (what about them makes them good at their job).

Sperm cell - found in male reproductive organs:

Root hair cell - found in the roots of plants:

Nerve cell - found in the nervous system of animals:

Muscle cell - found in the the flesh of animals:

Xylem and Phloem cells – found in the stem of plants:

Examples
alise Foun Functio Adaptatio Male To
d d in n n reproducte swim
Cell d toward
s an
organs
egg in
order
to
fertilize
it.

1. Long tail - so the sperm cell can swim towards the egg.
2. Lots of mitochondria - so the sperm cell has lots of energy for swimming
 3. Narrow head - to make the sperm cell streamline for faster swimming.
4. Enzymes in the sperm-head to help break through the egg cell membrane.

Nervous system of animals

Carry electric impulses
quickly around
the body.

1. Long - to cover more distance

2. Long and branched connections at the top and bottom of the cell - to connect to
lots of other nerve cells and create a web of nerve cells.

Fles Found
h of in the
anim flesh of
als -
Contra
ct
quickly
to
allow
move
ment.

1. Long - so that they have space to contract

2. Contain lots of mitochondria - so they have enough energy to contract.

Roo Grow
ts of into
a long
plan ‘hairs’
t to
absor
b
miner
als
and
 water
from
the
soil.

1. Large surface area - so that it can absorb more water and minerals from the
water.

Ste
m of
plan
t
Fou
nd
in
plan
t
ste
ms
to
carr
y
wate
r
arou
nd
the
plan
t
from
the
soil.

1. Cells are long and joined end to end - so that substances can flow through
quickly.
2. Cells are hollow - so that substances can flow through quicker.

Stem Found in plant stems to carry

minerals around the plant
from the soil.