Cell Differentiation and Specialisation

Cell Differentiation and Specialisation

1. Animal Cells

   • Ciliated Cell
     • Function: push mucus from one place to the other
     • Adaption: they're covered in small moving hairs called cilia
   • Red Blood Cell
     • Function: transport oxygen from the lungs to body tissues for aerobic respiration
     • Adaption: Contains haemoglobin, which contains oxygen
     • Adaption: doesn't contain a nucleus, increasing the space for haemoglobin
     • Adaption: very flexible so they can fit through blood vessels
   • Sperm Cell
     • Function: to fertilise an egg cell
     • Adaption: a haploid nucleus, only containing half the chromosomes of a diploid nucleus (the egg contains the other half)
     • Adaption: the acrosome contains digestive enzymes to penetrate the egg cell
     • Adaption: the middle piece contains lots of mitochondria for energy
     • Adaption: the flagellum (tail) helps the sperm to swim

2. Plant Cells

   • Root Hair Cell
     • Function: absorb water and minerals from soil
     • Adaption: the extension (root hair) provides a large surface area for absorpsion
     • Adaption: don't contain chloroplasts
   • Xylem Vessel
     • Function: transport water and support the cell
     • Adaption: no cytoplasm or end walls so there's a continuous tunnel for the water to pass through
     • Adaption: the walls are strengthened by lignin, which is tough and waterproof