CELL DIFFERENTIATION AND SPECIALISATION

Cell Differentitation and Specialisation

1) Differentiation is the process by which a cell changes to become specialised for its job.

2) As cells change, they develop different subcellular structures and turn into different types of cells. This allows them to carry out specific functions.

3) Most differentiation occurs as an organism develops. In most animal cells, the ability to differentiate is then lost at an early stage, after they become specialised. However lots of plant cells don't ever lose this ability.

4) The cells that differentiate in mature animals are mainly used for repairing and replacing cells, such as skin or blood cells.

5) Some cells are undifferentiated cells - they're called stem cells.

Examples of specialised cells:

Sperm cells are specialised for reproduction. The function of a sperm is basically to get the male DNA to the female DNA. It has a long tail and streamlined head to help it swim to…