Cell specialisation in multicellular organism

•As the multicellular organisms grow, the number

of cells & the organism’s size increase causes all
living processes also increase in:
a) size – demands for more food & more oxygen
b) quality – a need for an efficient supply of
oxygen to the cells
c) complexity – such as complex organs to
replace simple organelles
* How to satisfy this need ?
Through cell specialisation
Cell specialisation in multicellular organism
* What is cell specialisation ?
A different groups of cells that carry out different
task & function

Repeated cell division

Differentiation
&

Zygote Specialisation

Embryo

Specialised cells
in organism
Cell specialisation in multicellular organism

Important of cell specialisation:

• They are more complex than unicellular
organism, cell specialisation allows each type of
cells to carry out its function efficiently

• Without cell specialisation, they are unable to adapt &

live in a wider range of habitats, therefore they cannot
survive
 Cell Organisation
* Although the individual cells perform specific
functions independently, they are coordinated
to each other for the life processes to take
place efficiently for the survival of the
organisms
* The cooperation & coordination among cells
is called organisation.
* Five levels of organisation, ranging from the
simplest to the most complex:
Cells Tissues Organs Systems
Organism
 Cell Organisation
• Cell = Basic unit of life
• Tissue = A group of similar cells
performing a particular function
• Organ = A group of different tissues that
performs a specialised function
• System = Are groups of two or more
organs that work together to perform a
specific function for the organism
• Organism = Living thing as a whole that
can carry out all the basic life processes
 Types of animal tissue

a) Epithelial b) Muscle c) Connective d) Nerve

tissue tissue tissue tissue

At the surface Loose connective

of the skin & Smooth tissue
lining mouth muscle
tissue Dense fibrous
at the lining of
the trachea connective tissue
Skeletal
At the lining of muscle Cartilage
small intestine tissue
at the lining of Bone
kidney tubules Cardiac
muscle Blood cells
At the lining of
tissue
blood vessel Adipose
 Structure of Epithelial tissue
* Arrange in one or more layers of cells
* Cells are tightly interconnected, with little space between them.
* The structure of epithelial tissues are adapted to its functions.

Skin Small intestine Alveoli of the lungs

* Modified to * Adapted to Trachea
form gland in form mucus Thin, flattened &
the skin. Eg; secreting Consists of arranged in single
sweat glands & goblets which elongated cell layer
sebacous secrete mucus with hair like
glands to the digestive projections
tract called cillia
 The Function of Epithelial tissues
• Carry out functions associated with protection, secretion &
absorption
a)Epithelial tissue on the skin :
i) Act as a protective against infections, mechanical injuries &
dehydration
ii)Secretes sweat & sebum
b) Epithelial tissue in the lining of human intestine
i) Protects the body against pathogens that enter the body
through food intake
ii) Absorption of digested food
c) Epithelial tissue that lines the trachea
i) Ciliated epithelium traps dust & microbial spores to protect
the body against pathogen
d) Epithelial tissues which lines the alveoli of the lungs
i) For gaseous exchange
 Structure of Muscle Tissue
• Composed of cells called muscle fibres

Smooth muscle tissue Skeletal muscle Cardiac muscle

* It has a spindle-shaped * Cylindrical in shaped * Found in the heart
cell * Attached to the bones
* Found along the walls of by tendon
blood vessels (arteries & * each cell has more
veins), alimentary canal , than one nucleus
blood vessels, bladder & * Nuclei located at the
reproductive tract site
* nucleus located at the
centre
 The Function of Muscle Tissue

a) Smooth muscles :
Responsible for the involuntary actions of the body
eg; when the smooth muscles of intestine contract,
food is moved along the digestive tract.
b) Skeletal muscles :
Responsible for the voluntary movements of the
body. Contractions of skeletal muscles produce
movements of various body parts.
c) Cardiac muscles :
Contract to pump blood to all parts of the body,
Contractions of cardiac muscles are involuntary
 Structure of Connective Tissues
• Consist of various types of cells & fibres separated by
an extracellular matrix.
a) Loose connective tissue :
* The most widespread connective tissue in the body
* Consists of a network of collagen, capillaries &
spaces filled with fluid.
b) Dense fibrous connective tissue :
Contains a large number of collagenous fibres which
are packed closely together

Tendons Ligaments
 Structure of Connective Tissues
c) Cartilage :
Strong & flexible connective tissue
d) Bone :
* a rigid connective tissue
* consist of cells embedded in a
matrix of collagen hardened by
mineral deposits such as calcium
e) Blood :
* Consists of red & white blood
cells & cell fragments called
platelets suspended in a fluid
called blood plasma
f) Adipose tissue :
* Consists of tightly packed cells
that can be found in the dermis of
the skin & around major organs.
 The Function of Connective Tissues
• Bind structures together, & provide support &
protection to other tissues.

a) Loose connective tissue :

Binds epithelial to underlying tissue & holds organs in place

b) Dense fibrous connective tissue :

* Forms tendons & ligaments
i) Tendons : attach muscles to bone
ii) Ligaments : attach bones to bones

c) Cartilage :
* provides support to the nose, ears & covers the ends of bones
at joints.
* form discs between vertebrae. This enables them to act as
cushion to absorb pressure.
* to keep the trachea & bronchi open
 The Function of Connective Tissues
d) Bone :
* Gives body its shape & support
* Protects internal organs such as the brain, heart &
spinal cord
* Provides attachment for muscle to enable movement to
take place
e) Blood :
* Transports nutrients & oxygen to cells & removes
carbon dioxide & waste products from the cells.
* Distribute heat throughout the body & contains
regulatory substances such as hormones & enzymes.
* Red blood cells transport oxygen
* White blood cells assist in fighting infections
* Platelets aid in blood clotting
f) Adipose tissue :
* Acts as an energy reserve
* Insulate the body
 Structure & Function of Nerve Tissue
Structure :
* Composed of neurones / nerve cells
* Each neurone consists of a cell body &
nerve fibre called dendrites & axons
Function :
* Transmit signals called nerve impulses
* Control & coordinate activities of the
body
 Human Organ
• Two or more types of tissues work together to
form organ.
Eg;

Epithelial Connective + Nerve

+ + Muscle Skin
tissue tissue tissue tissue

Cardiac
muscle + Connective + Nerve + Epithelial Heart
tissue tissue tissue tissue
 Human System
• A group of different organs work together to form
a system
System Organs involve Function
Excretory Kidney, ureters, Filters out cellular
system bladder, urethra, wastes toxins &
skin, lungs excess water from
the circulatory
system
Respiratory Nose, trachea & Takes oxygen from
system lungs the atmosphere into
the body & expel
carbon dioxide from
the body
 Concept Map : Cell Organisation in Plants

2 types of tissue in plants

Meristematic tissue Permanent tissue

# What is meristematic tissue? # What is permanent tissue?

3 types of permanent tissue.

Epidermal tissue

Parenchyma tissue
Ground tissue Collenchyma tissue

Sclerenchyma tissue

Xylem tissue
Vascular tissue
Phloem tissue
Structure & Function of Meristematic Tissue
What is meristematic tissue?
# is the young tissue that actively divides
through a process called mitosis
Structure :
• Consist of small cells which have thin
walls, large nuclei, dense cytoplasm &
no vacoule.

Function :
* Divide actively by mitosis to produce
new cells.
* The new cells then differentiate into the
various other tissues.
Structure & Function of Permanent Tissue
What is permanent tissue?
* a mature tissue that has undergone
differentiation or are still undergoing
differentiation.
a) Epidermal tissue :
Structure -
* the outermost layer that covers the stems,
leaves & roots of young plants.
* flat & have large vacuoles.
* the walls of epidermal cell which are exposed
to air are covered with the cuticle
 Function of epidermal tissue
•Protects the plant from mechanical injury,
entry of pathogens & reduces water loss.
•Some are modified to form guard cells for
gaseous exchange through stomatal pore.
•Some are modified to become root hairs.
 Structure of Ground tissue
• Is the tissue that pack the spaces between the
epidermis & the vascular tissue.
i) Parenchyma tissue :
* are the least specialised of the cell types
found in all the organs of a plant.
* have thin primary walls & large vacuoles.
* have thickened cell walls & large vacoules

ii) Collenchyma tissue :

* some have chloroplast & can carry out
photosynthesis
* supports non-woody plants, young stems &
petioles

iii) Sclerenchyma tissue :

* have cell walls which are uniformly
thickened by lignin & may be dead.
 Function of Ground Tissues
• Supports & strengthens plants especially young stems &
leaves.
i) Parenchyma tissue :
* store products of photosynthesis such as sugar &
starch. Eg; Parenchyma tissue of sweet potatoes is
packed with starch.
* the palisade mesophyll cells & spongy mesophyll cells
in leaves are specialised parenchyma cells which
contain chloroplast & carry out photosynthesis.
* gives support & shape to plants
ii) Collenchyma tissue :
* An important source of support in herbaceous plants,
young stems, leaf stalks & petioles.
iii) Sclerenchyma tissue :
* Support & strengthens the plant body & provides
protection to the plant.
 Structure of Vascular Tissue
• Continuous throughout the plant
i) Xylem tissue :
* Consists of tracheids & xylem vessels.
These are long tubes joined together end to
end, stretching from the roots right up to the
shoot.
* Cell walls are thickened with lignin which
prevents food substances from entering the
cells.
* When the cytoplasm disintegrates, a hollow
tube is left behinds to allow water minerals to
flow easily through the xylem vessel
ii) Phloem tissue
* Consists of parenchyma cells, sclereids,
sieve tubes & companion cells.
* the conducting cells are sieve tubes which
have pores at both ends, called sieve plates.
 Function of Vascular Tissue
i) Xylem tissue :
* conducts water & minerals from the
roots to the leaves
* provides support & mechanical
strength to the plant
ii) Phloem tissue :
* transports organic substances such as
carbohydrates & amino acids from the
leaves to storage organs & to growing
parts of plants.
 Plant’s Organ

Leaf Flower Stem Root

Eg:

Ground Epidermal Vascular

tissue + tissues + tissues Leaf
 Types of system in Flowering Plant
System Organs Function

Shoot Stems, leaves, * The stems & branches act

system flowers & fruits as a support system the
leaves upright for maximum
absorption of sunlight
Root Roots, tubers & * Anchors the plant
system rhizomes * Absorbs water & minerals
* Stores food
Vascular Xylem & * Transport water, dissolved
system phloem vessels mineral salt & food in the
plant.