Combined Science Biology B1 - Examples of Specialised Cells

• Specialised for rapid signalling
• Function - to carry electrical signals from one part of the body to another

Adaptations

• Long to cover more distance
• Branched connections at their ends to connect to other nerve cells and form a network throughout the body

• Specialised for reproduction
• Function - to get the male DNA to the female DNA

Adaptations

• Long tail and streamlined head to help it swim to the egg
• A lot of mitochondria in the cell to provide the energy needed
• Carries enzymes in its head to digest through the egg cell membrane

• Specialised for contraction
• Function - to contract quickly

Adaptations

• Long so that they have space to contract
• Contain lots of mitochondria to generate the energy needed for contraction

• Specialised for absorbing water and minerals
• Function - to collect water and mineral nutrients in the soil and take this solution up through the roots to the rest of the plant

Adaptations

• Gives the plant a big surface area for absorbing water and mineral ions from the soil

• Specialised for transporting substances
• Phloem and xylem cells form phloem and xylem tubes, which transport substances such as food and water around plants

Adaptations

• Cells are long and joined end to end to form the tubes
• Xylem cells - hollow in the centre
• Phloem cells - very few subcellular structures so stuff can flow through them