Specialized Cells
Specialized Cells
• A multi-cellular organism has
levels of organization.
• All cells, tissues, and organs have
specific functions.
• Specific functions requires
specific abilities to fulfill roles!
• You started life as a single fertilized egg (1 cell) ->
multiplied to be many cells-> cells
DIFFERENTIATE to perform different functions in
different parts of your body
• SPECIALIZED CELL- cell that can perform a
specific function, certain genes are turned “on”
and others “off”
Specialized Cells
Specialized Cells
Cells that have physical and
chemical differences that allow
them to perform one job very
well.
Specialized Cells
Lung tissue cells are different
from brain cells, are different
from intestinal cells, are
different from blood cells, are
different from skin cells, are
different from nerve cells, are
different from…….
• EMBRYOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgT5rU
Q9EmQ
Specialized Animal Cells
Specialized Cells - Animals

Red Blood Cells


Contains hemoglobin that
carries oxygen in the blood.
Smooth – they easily pass
through blood vessels.
Specialized Cells - Animals

Muscle Cells


Arranged in bundles.
Contract causing bones to
move.
Specialized Cells - Animals

Fat Cells

Large vacuole stores fat
molecules
storage of
chemical energy.
Specialized Cells - Animals

Skin Cells

Fit together tightly forming a
protective barrier and reduces
water loss.
Specialized Cells - Animals

White Blood Cells


Can move like amoeba.
Engulf invading bacteria to
fight infection.
Specialized Cells - Animals

Nerve Cells


Long, thin, and have
many branches.
Conduct electrical impulses to
co-ordinate body activity.
Specialized Cells - Animals

Bone Cells


Collect calcium from food;
required for growth
and repair of bones.
Build bones around
themselves, building
the skeleton.
Specialized Cells - Animals

Sperm Cells


Can move independently.
Carry DNA from male parent to
join the with DNA of female
parent.
• SKIN CELLS- provides protection from external
environment, reduces H2O loss
• BONE CELLS- collect calcium from food, allow growth
and repair of bones, build up bone around them
• FAT CELLS- have large vacuoles to store fat molecules
(chemical energy)
• SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLS- arranged in bundles called
MUSCLE FIBRES, contract/relax to make bones move
• CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLS- beat on their own
continuously; as a tissue, they undergo synchronized
contractions and conducts electrical impulses even when
not stimulated by a nerve impulse
• RED BLOOD CELLS- carry O2 and CO2 around the body
• WHITE BLOOD CELLS- ameoboid cells, engulf bacteria
and fight infection
• SPERM CELLS- have flagella to swim outside the body,
carry male DNA to join with female DNA (egg)
• NERVE CELLS- “neurons”; long, thin, branched; conduct
electrical impulses to coordinate body activity
Specialized Cells - Plants

Plants also have specialized
cells.

Cells of the leaf perform
different functions from the
trunk cells, different from the
root cells, different from the
stalk cells, different from the …
Specialized Cells - Plants

Xylem Cells

Move water and minerals
through the plant.
Specialized Cells - Plants

Phloem Cells

Move sugars through the plant.
Specialized Cells - Plants

Ground Tissue Cells

Storage of starch and energy
for the plant.
Specialized Cells - Plants

Epidermal Cells

Protect the plant and facilitate
water absorption from roots.
Specialized Cells - Plants

Photosynthetic Cells

Contain chloroplasts which
collect energy from the sun to
make sugar for the plant.
Specialized Cells - Plants

Guard Cells

Control water loss from
the leaves of plants.
Vocabulary
Specialized Cells
Red Blood Cells
Muscle Cells
Fat Cells
Skin Cells
White Blood Cells
Nerve Cells
Bone Cells
Sperm Cells
Photophores
Transport Cells
Storage Cells
Epidermal Cells
Photosynthetic Cells
Guard Cells
• STEM CELL- an undifferentiated cell that can divide to
form specialized cells, two types:
– EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS- can differentiate into
any kind of cell
– TISSUE STEM CELLS- adult cells existing within
specialized tissue, can only differentiate into certain
types of cells, ex. bone marrow cells can differentiate
into white blood cells, red blood cells, or platelets ex.
cord blood banking
• HOW STEM CELLS WORK:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUcE1Y_bOQE
• INTRODUCTION TO STEM CELLS: cord blood
stem cells and embryonic or adult stem cells:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWfw5en2MEM
&NR=1
•
• SAVING LIVES WITH DESIGNER BABIES:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6Z0J4SCqek&
feature=fvsr
• OBAMA ON STEM CELL RESEARCH:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63Uqp9VcCq4&
feature=fvst
Stem cells
Video about stem cells:
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/stemcells/scintro/
How stem cell lines are made:
http://www.dnalc.org/resources/animations/stemcells.html
Mouse heart:
http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2008/01/14-02.html
HOMEWORK: Info about cells for pro/con table
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/stemcells/quickref/
www. Eurostemcell.org – the ethical debate
Homework
1) Why are complex organisms made up of specialized cells?
2) Think about your own body. List at least four activities that your body
must do to keep you alive.
3) Choose two specialized cells. Compare their structure and funtion.
4) Every cell in your body came from one fertilized egg cell. What does
this tell you about the DNA differences between one body call and
another?
5) Do plant cells specialize in the same way as animal cells? Use
examples of each to illustrate your answer.
6) Why do single-celled organisms not show specialization?
7) What is the meaning of the term “cellular differentiation”?
8) What is the difference between tissue stem cells and embryonic stem
cells?
9) Why are stem cells from a newborn baby’s umbilical cord blood
considered to be tissue stem cells?
10) What is the significance of being able to harvest stem cells that can
specialize into any type of cell?
11) Briefly describe the process of bone marrow transplant to treat
leukemia.
12) Complete “Cell Types Worksheet”***