Cell Specialization
Gr. 7 Science
The Big Idea
 Plants and animals, including
humans, are made of specialized
cells, tissues, and organs that are
organized into systems.
Remember...
 Cell  Tissue  Organ  Organ
System  Organism
 Specialization is the adaptation of
a cell to perform a specific
function.
 In most multicellular organisms,
as their structures and life
functions become more complex,
their cells become more and more
specialized for performing
particular activities.
Brainstorm
 What different types of cells in the
body can you think of?
 What functions does each of
those cells perform?
 Blood cells- red and white
 Muscle cells
 Brain cells
 Bone cells
 Liver cells
 Skin cells
 Eye cells
 Sex cells (egg and sperm)
Warm-up 12-4-13
 What do you think the phrase “form follows function” means?
How does it relate to the human body?
 The shape (form) that a cell has allows it to do its job
(function)
1. Research the function of the 6 different types of cells on your
“Building Blocks” worksheet and describe the function of the
cell in the third column.
2. Then look at the shape (form) of that cell and infer how it
helps the cell perform its job (function)
 White Blood Cell
 The job of the WBC is to fight disease causing
organisms in the body.
 The shape of the WBC allows it to surround and
engulf disease causing bacteria and then digest
it.
 Nerve Cell
 Job: Send messages throughout the body
 Shape allows the dendrites to receive message,
axon allows message to travel along it, axon
endings transmits the message to the next nerve
cell. They are lined up end to end in the body in
a network (almost like telephone lines)
 Bone cell
 Job: Support the body
 Shape: thick and compact which makes it
strong enough to support the body of an
organism
 Muscle Cell
 Job: Helps the body move. Muscles pull on
the bones pushing them up or down.
 Shape: Strands of cells that can contract
and relax to cause movement by pushing
and pulling on the bones.
 Epithelial Cell
 Function: Line, cover, and protect the organs and
systems of the body.
 Shape: Flat cells that can stack one on top of
another to create lining
 Red Blood Cell
 Function: Carry oxygen and carbon dioxide
through the body
 Shape: “Donut” shape that allows it to carry
oxygen gas to all tissues of the body. Contains a
protein hemoglobin that chemically bonds
(connects) to oxygen
Warm-up
“The specialization of cells serves the
operation of the organs and the
organs serve the needs of the cell.”
 Explain the meaning of the quote
above in your answer please include:
1. Your understanding of the words
“specialization of cells”
2. The definition of organ
3. Specific examples of the meaning of
the quoted statement.
One or Many???
 A single-celled organism is called
UNICELLULAR
 Examples: bacteria, algae
(plant), yeasts (fungi)
 These organisms perform ALL of
their functions in ONLY ONE
CELL!!!
 Multicellular organisms are made up
of MANY cells.
 These organisms have cell
specialization
 different types of cells for different
jobs/purposes.
 As cells specialize, only DNA related
to the functions of a particular cell
remains active
 Tissue – a group of cells that are
structurally similar and perform the
same function
 Ex. muscle, nerve, blood
Muscle
 Produces force and motion
 Tissues are specialized for
contraction
Nervous
 Controls body function and
movement
 Carries electrical messages
back and forth from the brain to
the body.
 Ex: Brain cells, spinal cord,
throughout the body (ear, nose,
tongue, eye, fingers, etc.)
Connective
 Connects/binds different tissues, organs,
and organ systems together
 Provides support to the body
 Ex. tendons, ligaments, bone, cartilage,
blood vessels, and fat
Epithelial
 Consists of layers that cover
and protects body surfaces and
lines body cavities
 Ex: Skin, covers the liver, lines
the digestive system
Muscle Tissue
 Skeletal, Cardiac, Smooth
Skeletal Muscle
 Voluntary motion
 Parallel striations
 Majority of muscle
Cardiac Muscle
 Found only in heart
 Involuntary
 Branched striations
Smooth Muscle
 Involuntary
movement
 No striations
 Found in hollow
organs
(intestines,
blood vessels,
etc.)
Warm-up 12-18-13
 Connects/binds different tissues,
organs, and organ systems
together
 Define
connective
tissue and give
2 examples of
connective
tissue and their
functions.
 Provides support to the body
 Ex. tendons, ligaments, bone,
cartilage, blood vessels, and
fat
 Tendons connect muscles to
bone
 Ligaments connect bone to
bone in a moveable joint.
 Bone connects the body
together