In this guide
- Revise
- Video
- Test
- Chromosomes in the cell nucleus
- Mitosis and the cell cycle
- Sexual reproduction, meiosis and gamete formation
- Stem cells
- Cell differentiation
- Using human stem cells
- Benefits and risks of using stem cells in medicine
Cell differentiation
Animals and plants produced by sexual reproduction begin life as a single cell - a fertilisedclosefertilisationThe joining of a male and female gamete. eggcloseegg cellThe female reproductive cell. or zygoteclosezygoteA fertilised egg cell..
This cell must divide to produce a multicellularclosemulticellularHaving more than one cell. organism. It must also differentiateclosedifferentiationWhen an unspecialised cell becomes a more specialised cell type., so that its cells develop features that enable them to fulfil specific roles.
Examples in animals include:
| Cells of the… | Specialised to… |
| Circulatory system | Transport substances, defend the body, regulate temperature |
| Excretory system | Remove waste products and unwanted substances, regulate the water content of the body |
| Muscular system | Bring about movement |
| Nervous system | Respond to internal and external stimuli and conditions, carry messages for the body, work as a coordinated whole |
| Respiratory system | Deliver oxygen for respiration and remove waste |
| Reproductive system | Bring about fertilisation to produce new offspring |
| Skeletal system | Bring about movement, support and protect internal structures, produce blood cells, store and release calcium |
| Cells of the… | Circulatory system |
|---|
| Specialised to… | Transport substances, defend the body, regulate temperature |
|---|
| Cells of the… | Excretory system |
|---|
| Specialised to… | Remove waste products and unwanted substances, regulate the water content of the body |
|---|
| Cells of the… | Muscular system |
|---|
| Specialised to… | Bring about movement |
|---|
| Cells of the… | Nervous system |
|---|
| Specialised to… | Respond to internal and external stimuli and conditions, carry messages for the body, work as a coordinated whole |
|---|
| Cells of the… | Respiratory system |
|---|
| Specialised to… | Deliver oxygen for respiration and remove waste |
|---|
| Cells of the… | Reproductive system |
|---|
| Specialised to… | Bring about fertilisation to produce new offspring |
|---|
| Cells of the… | Skeletal system |
|---|
| Specialised to… | Bring about movement, support and protect internal structures, produce blood cells, store and release calcium |
|---|
Some specialised cells of plants:
| Cells of the… | Specialised to… |
| Leaf | Palisade mesophyll | Carry out photosynthesis |
| Spongy mesophyll | Allow gases to circulate for the exchange of gases between the leaf and the environment, carry out some photosynthesis |
| Guard cells | Open and close to control the exchange of gases – carbon dioxide, water vapour and oxygen |
| Phloem | Sieve tubes | Transport sugars produced in photosynthesis from the leaf to where they are needed |
| Companion cells | Provide the energy required for transporting substances in sieve tubes |
| Xylem | Xylem vessels | Transport water and dissolved minerals from the roots, up the plant |
| Growing points | Meristem | Produce new cells as they divide |
| Cells of the… | Leaf |
|---|
| Palisade mesophyll |
| Specialised to… | Carry out photosynthesis |
|---|
| Cells of the… |
|---|
| Spongy mesophyll |
| Specialised to… | Allow gases to circulate for the exchange of gases between the leaf and the environment, carry out some photosynthesis |
|---|
| Cells of the… |
|---|
| Guard cells |
| Specialised to… | Open and close to control the exchange of gases – carbon dioxide, water vapour and oxygen |
|---|
| Cells of the… | Phloem |
|---|
| Sieve tubes |
| Specialised to… | Transport sugars produced in photosynthesis from the leaf to where they are needed |
|---|
| Cells of the… |
|---|
| Companion cells |
| Specialised to… | Provide the energy required for transporting substances in sieve tubes |
|---|
| Cells of the… | Xylem |
|---|
| Xylem vessels |
| Specialised to… | Transport water and dissolved minerals from the roots, up the plant |
|---|
| Cells of the… | Growing points |
|---|
| Meristem |
| Specialised to… | Produce new cells as they divide |
|---|
Next page
Using human stem cellsPrevious page
Stem cellsMore guides on this topic
- What happens during cellular respiration? - OCR 21st Century
- How do we know about mitochondria and other cell structures?
- Interactive activity: Mitosis - OCR 21st Century
- How is growth controlled in plants? - OCR 21st Century
- Sample exam questions - using food and controlling growth
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