Specialised Cells

Specialised Cells

What Are Specialised Cells?

A specialised cell is a cell that has adapted its structure to perform a specific function.

 

💡 Key Concept:
During development, cells become differentiated – meaning they develop features that help them carry out particular roles.

 

Why Do Cells Specialise?

✔ Multicellular organisms (like humans and plants) have many different cell types
✔ Each type of cell is adapted to its job
✔ This makes the organism more efficient

 

👉 Undifferentiated cells are called stem cells – they can become specialised.

 

Examples of Specialised Animal Cells

Cell Type

Function

Adaptations

Sperm cell

Fertilises an egg

Long tail, lots of mitochondria, enzymes in head

Nerve cell

Carries electrical signals

Long axon, branched connections

Muscle cell

Contracts to cause movement

Long, contains many mitochondria

Red blood cell

Carries oxygen

No nucleus, biconcave shape, haemoglobin

Examples of Specialised Plant Cells

Cell Type

Function

Adaptations

Root hair cell

Absorbs water and minerals from the soil

Long projection, large surface area

Palisade Cell

Carry out photosynthesis

Many chloroplasts

Differentiation

✔ In animals, most cells differentiate early
✔ In plants, many cells can differentiate throughout life
✔ Differentiation is reversible in some plants, but not usually in animals

 

Sperm Cell
Nerve Cell
Muscle Cell
Red Blood Cell
Root Hair Cell
Palisade Cell

Questions 

  1. What is a specialised cell?
  2. Give one adaptation of a sperm cell.
  3. What’s the job of a root hair cell?
  4. Why do red blood cells not have a nucleus?
  5. What is the name for cells that can become any type of cell?
 

Summary 

  • Specialised cells have structures suited to their function
  • This process is called differentiation
  • Examples include sperm, nerve, muscle, and root hair cells
  • In animals, most cells differentiate early in life
  • In plants, differentiation can happen at any time