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2 Specialised Cell Biology SR I
2 Specialised Cell Biology SR I
Ms Hina Batool
Index
Specialized cells, tissues and organs
Specialized cell their structures and their specific functions
Cell
Tissue
Organ
Organ system
Organism
WHAT IS CELL SPECIALIZATION?
Adaptations to function (The way a cell is structurally modified in such a way it can
perform its function efficiently):
It has biconcave shape for increasing its surface area thus diffusion of oxygen in and out of
the red blood cell becomes easy.
ROOT HAIR CELL
Root hair cells are actually modified epidermal cells of the roots.
A root hair cell has a long and narrow protrusion (may also be referred to as hair-like
structure).
A root hair cell has a large vacuole with lots of mitochondria in the cytoplasm.
Now, unlike any typical plant cells, root hair cells have no chloroplasts.
Function of root hair cell:
To absorb water and mineral salts by osmosis and active transport respectively.
ADAPTATIONS TO FUNCTION:
The hair-like structure helps to increase the surface area of the root hair cell, thus
helps the root hair cell to absorb more water and mineral salts.
The hair-like structure which is long and narrow helps the root hair cell to penetrate
in between soil particles in search of water and mineral salts.
The presence of mitochondria in large number in the cytoplasm of the root hair cell,
helps for more absorption of mineral salts by active transport (Remember, active
transport will only occur in the presence of energy provided by the mitochondria).
The large vacuole enable more water and mineral salts to be stored after being
absorbed. (Note: the absence of chloroplasts actually helps the vacuole to stretch out)
THE XYLEM VESSELS
A xylem vessel is made up of long cells joined end to end.
Once a region of the plant has ceased growing, the end walls of these cells are digested
away to form a continuous fine tube.
At the same time, the cell walls are thickened and impregnated with a substance
called lignin which makes the cell wall very strong and impermeable (The process is
called lignification).
Since these lignified cell walls prevent free passage of water and nutrients, the
cytoplasm dies (However, the passage of water in the vessel itself is not affected).
So a xylem is just like a water pipe which is hollow with no living materials
(cytoplasm, nucleus and other organelles) in it.
Function of xylem vessel:
To transport water and minerals from the roots to other parts of a plant as well as to
provide support to the whole plant hence enable a plant to stand erect.
ADAPTATIONS TO FUNCTIONS:
The cell walls of the xylem vessel being lignified adds or provides strength. This in turn
provides support to the whole plant. The xylem in the leaf for example, helps the leaf to
be positioned horizontally on the plant towards the sun. This helps the leaf to absorb as
much light energy as possible to be used for photosynthesis.
The absence of protoplasm and cross-wall in the xylem vessel provides no obstacle for
water to flow up the xylem vessel.
Being very narrow helps water to move up the xylem vessel by means of capillary action.
GUARD CELLS
A sperm cell is specialised in such a way that it has a tail, a large number of
mitochondria and a small vacuole containing enzyme.
The tail is very important for mobility when the sperm cell needs to swim towards an
egg cell before fertilisation can take place.
The large number of mitochondria provides energy for mobility and the enzyme in
the small vacuole helps the sperm to digest the wall of the egg cell so that the nucleus
can enter the egg cell for fertilisation to take place (Fertilisation is fusion of the
nucleus of the sperm with the nucleus of the egg cell to form a zygote)
Ciliate cell
Nerve cell
Egg cell
Vedios
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRnK4ys8vm4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u87QpOOkdxI
Practice Question And Answer
B
C
B
D
B
A
B
D
A
A
Question
https
://cdn.savemyexams.co.uk/uploads/5/0/8/7/50878855/2-specialised_cells_tissues_and_orga
ns-qp_olevel-cie-biology_.
pdf
Answer
https://www.savemyexams.co.uk/o-level-biology-cie-new/topic-questions/specialised-cells
-tissues-organs-mark-scheme
/
Thank you