Specialised Cells

Question 1

What is differentiation

Answer 1

The process by which stem cells become specialised into different types of cells

Question 2

What is specialisation?

Answer 2

When a cell changed to fit a function such as:

• The proportion of the different organelles differ from those of other cells
• The shape of cell changes
• some of the contents of the cell change

Question 3

What is the function of erythrocytes?

Answer 3

Carry oxygen from the lungs to respiring cells

Question 4

What is a neutrophils>

Answer 4

Ingest invading pathogens

Question 5

How are erythrocytes adapted to their function?

Answer 5

They are very small with a large surface area to volume ratio and a biconcave disc so oxygen can diffuse across the membranes.

Question 6

Where are erythrocytes and neutrophils made?

Answer 6

Stem cells in bone marrow

Question 7

How is the spermatozoa adapted to its function?

Answer 7

• It has many mitochondria for aerobic respiration so the ATP can provide energy for undulipodium to move the cell to the egg cell
• It is long and thin so they can move easily
• It has enzymes at the head to destroy the ovum’s outer protective layer
• The head of the sperm contains the haploid male gamete nucleus and very little cytoplasm

Question 8

What is an epithelial cell?

Answer 8

The lining cells of the body such as the skin, alveoli, capillaries and intestines

Question 9

What is the function of the palisade cell?

Answer 9

Photosynthesis

Question 10

How are palisade cells adapted to their function?

Answer 10

• They are long and cylindrical so they are quite packed closely with little air spaces and a place for CO2 to diffuse into the cells
• Has many chloroplast for photosynthesis
• A large vacuole so the chloroplasts are positioned nearer to the edge of the cells reducing the diffusion distance for CO2
• They contain cytoskeleton threads and motor proteins to move the chloroplast up or down according to more or less light intensity

Question 11

What is the root hair cells function?

Answer 11

Absorb mineral ions and water from the soil for a plant

Question 12

How is a root hair cell adapted to its function?

Answer 12

• It has hair like projections for an increased surface area to diffuse more
• They had ATP for active transport
• They had many channel and carrier proteins for the ions and water

Question 13

What is the guard cells function?

Answer 13

Controls the diffusion of oxygen and water

Question 14

How is a guard cell adapted to its function?

Answer 14

Thickened inner walls so it increases in an oblong not round shape
Chloroplast for ATP

Question 15

Where are squamous epithelium cells?

Answer 15

The lungs covering the alveoli as the single layer allows for very fast diffusion of oxygen into the blood, walls of blood vessels, lining of heart​

Question 16

What is the squamous epithelium cells function?

Answer 16

Allows passage of materials by diffusion and filtration where protection is not important

Question 17

How is a ciliated epithelium cell adapted to its function?

Answer 17

It is a single layer of cells of different height, so don’t reach the free surface. Some of the cells with the epithelial tissue are mucus secreting Goblet cells and the rest have cilia ultrastructure’s protruding to waft the mucus to the throat where it can be swallowed or expelled.

Question 18

Where are ciliated epithelium cells?

Answer 18

Trachea, parts of the nasal cavities, and bronchi.