Cell Specialisation

Cell specialization
• During cell specialization a typical animal or plant cell is
modified to carry out a specific function.
Blood cells
Red Blood Cell
CELL ADAPTATION FUNCTION

Red blood cell Contains no nucleus so Transport O2 and a small

(erythrocyte) that it can hold as much amount of CO2
haemoglobin as possible.

It has a biconcave disc This increases it’s surface

shape area so that it is able
transport large amounts
of the gases.

It also increases the

surface area to volume
ratio so that oxygen may
diffuse at a faster rate.

It has no nucleus and it It can easily change its

has a flexible cell shape, squeeze through
White blood cells
( leucocytes )
Lymphocyte( large nucleus )
Phagocyte ( lobed nucleus)
Phagocytosis
Cell Adaptation Function

Lymphocyte Large nucleus So that it can make

surrounded by very large quantities of
little cytoplasm antibodies

Phagocyte Lobed nucleus This gives the cell

room to change its
shape as it engulfs
the bacteria
( phagocytosis)
Nerve Cells
Cells Adaptation Function

Nerve Cells It is long and It carries the

branched impulses long
distances without
being interrupted

Some schwaan cells The myelin sheath

that secrete the insulates the nerve
myelin sheath cells and speeds up
nerve impulse
transmission

Produces These substances

neurotransmitter carry information
substances at the end across the synapse
of the acon
Muscle cells
Background info
• You will find microfilaments in most cells. They are the partner of
microtubules. They are long, thin, and stringy proteins (mainly actin)
compared to the rounder, tube-shaped microtubules.
• All of the microfilaments and microtubules combine to form the
cytoskeleton of the cell. The cytoskeleton is different from cytoplasm
(cytosol).
• You will also find many microfilaments in muscle tissue. They are called
myofibrils when you find them in muscles. The two proteins myosin
and actin work together to help the muscle cells relax and contract.
The two proteins need each other and together they are called
actomyosin. Combine those protein threads with some ions in the
muscle cell and you get a huge contraction.
Cells Adaptation Function

Muscle cells It is long. The muscle cells

It has long bands contact and this
(myofibrils) of causes the muscle
proteins known as tissue to contract
actin and myosin. and this causes
Once they receive movement within the
some ions ( nerve organism and
impulses) they movement of bones
contract (get which causes
shorter) movement of the
whole organism.

Have several To provide lots of

mitochondria energy
Epithelial Cells
Background information
• Epithelial tissues line the cavities and surfaces of blood vessels and
organs throughout the body.
• There are three principal shapes of epithelial cells: squamous,
columnar, and cuboidal.
• These can be arranged in a single layer of cells as simple
epithelium, either squamous, columnar or cuboidal, or in layers of
two or more cells deep as stratified (layered), either squamous,
columnar or cuboidal. All glands are made up of epithelial cells.
• Functions of epithelial cells include secretion, selective absorption,
protection, transcellular transport, and sensing.
 Background Information

• Epithelial layers contain no blood vessels, so they must receive

nourishment via diffusion of substances from the underlying
connective tissue, through the basement membrane.
• Simple epithelium is one cell thick; that is, every cell is in direct
contact with the underlying basement membrane. In general, it
is found where absorption and filtration occur.
• Stratified epithelium differs from simple epithelium in that it is
multilayered. It is therefore found where body linings have to
withstand mechanical or chemical insult such that layers can be
abraded and lost without exposing subepithelial layers.
Cells
Epithelial cells ( found in
simple epithelium)
Epithelial cells ( found in
stratified epithelia i.e.
epithelia with layers) e.g. in
the epithelial tissue of the
mammalian skin
Adaptation Function
Thin membranes and usually Facilitate absorption and
has a basement membrane filtration
Some are keratinized and This makes the tissue
contain the protein keratin waterproof
which kills the cells removes
the nucleus and cytoplasm
Cells Adaptaion Function

Ciliated epithelial They have goblet cells They trap dust and
cells and hair-like bacteria that in the
projections known as air we breathe.
cilia The mucus traps the
dirt and bacteria and
the cilia wafts
( carries) that mucus
to the back of our
throats.

Cilia helps to carry

things therefore its
found in your ovaries
and trachea and
Types of Tissues
Gametes ( sex cells)
Spermatozoa ( sperm cells)
Cell Adaptaion Function

Sperm Cell Acrosome containing Dissolve the outer

digestive enzymes layer of the egg

It has a pointed To penetrate the egg

shape

Its nucleus only

contains twenty
three chromosomes
( half the D.N.A. of a
normal plant cell)

Its midpiece( collar)

contains several
mitochondria

It has a flagellum
Egg cell
Cell Adaptation Function

Egg cell The outer membranes are Allows the sperm cell to penetrate it during
thin enough fertilization

It contains large amounts of To support the many cell divisions which occur
cytoplasm after fertilization

The cell membrane becomes To allow only one sperm to enter the egg.
impenetrable once
penetrated by a sperm cell.

Contains yolk Which acts as a large food store for the new
cell being formed

The nucleus only contains 23 To allow the 23 chromosomes in the sperm to

chromosomes ( half the combine with the 23 chromosomes of the egg
D.N.A. of a typical animal so the developing cell will have the same
Specialised Plant Cells
Cell Adaptation Function

Guard cell The inner walls are So the stoma( pore)

thicker than the is formed when the
outer walls cell is turgid
Root Hair Cells
Cells Adaptation Function

Root hair cells Large vacuoles To store solutes

Lack cuticle To allow the absorption of

water

Finger like extensions 1) Increases the surface

area to volume ratio
In order to absorb
mineral salts and water
at a faster rate
2) To reach into the salt
solution

The vacuoles are more Allows water to enter by

concentrated than the soil solution osmosis
( lower water potential)

Contains several mitochondria To provide energy for the

Can you think of other examples of
specialized plant cells?
Movement of
substances across cells
Movement of substances between cell
through the plasmodesmata
Movement of water in and out of cells
Diffusion and Osmosis ( Passive transport) vs
facilitated ( active transport) transport
Passive transport ( diffusion and osmosis)
• Substances move through the phospholipid bi-layer of the
cell membrane from an area of high concentration of the
molecules to an area of low concentration of the molecules.
( Refer to the slide before)
Diffusion and Osmosis ( Passive transport) vs
facilitated ( active transport) transport
Alternate definitions for Osmosis
• The movement of water molecules from an area with more
water molecules to an area with less water molecules through a
selectively permeable membrane until the water molecules are
at equilibrium.
• The movement of water molecules from a dilute solution to a
concentrated solution through a selectively permeable
membrane until the water molecules are at equilibrium,
• The movement of water from a solution with a higher water
potential to a solution with a lower potential through a
selectively permeable membrane until the water molecules are
at equilibrium.
Active Transport
• This process requires energy obtained for ATP.
• It is facilitated by the proteins that extend across the
membrane and act as an elevator
• Susbstances move from a low concentration to a high
concentration across the phospholipid bilayer.
Diffusion and Osmosis ( Passive transport) vs
facilitated ( active transport) transport
What happens to animal and plant cells
when placed in solutions that are :
• Hypotonic to the solutions inside the cell ( cytoplasm/
cytosol)?
• Hypertonic to the solutions inside the cell ( cytoplasm/
cytosol)?
• Isotonic to the solutions inside the cell ( cytoplasm/ cytosol)?
For the next slide choose a solution
• Concentrated Salt Water
• Pure water
• Or
• Very dilute salt water
In which cell……
• Does cytolysis occur and why?
• Does plasmolysis occur and why?
Cytolysis
• Cyto – cell lysis – to split or burst
• This occurs in animal cells.
• If the cells are placed in a solution which has more water than
the cell then the solution is hypotonis to the cell solution and
water will continue to enter the cell. This increase the turgor
pressure in the cell. The pressure may be high enough to burst
the cell membrane of the animal cell.
• Cytolysis does not occur in plant cells because as the turgor
pressure increases it reaches a point where it pushes water out
of the cell.The plant cell also has a cell wall.
Plasmolysis
• Plasm- plasm ( fluid) lysis – to split in this case to tear
away
• This occurs in plant cells.
• When they are placed in solutions with less water than the
cell solution this will cause the cell to lose water and if it
continues the cytoplasm will tear away from the cell wall of
the cell.
The End