What makes a cell in a complex multicellular organism specialised?
Its features are suited to a particular function, for example its shape or the abundance or arrangement of its cell structures.
AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy (8464) — Biology — Foundation · 4.1.1.3
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What makes a cell in a complex multicellular organism specialised?
Its features are suited to a particular function, for example its shape or the abundance or arrangement of its cell structures.
How should you explain a specialised cell’s adaptation?
Link a specific feature of the cell to how it helps the cell perform its function.
How does a sperm cell's tail help it reach an egg?
It enables the sperm to swim through fluid toward the egg.
How do mitochondria support sperm movement?
They carry out respiration, releasing energy for the tail to beat.
How does the acrosome help a sperm fertilise an egg?
This cap on the sperm head contains enzymes that digest the egg's outer layers, allowing the sperm nucleus to enter.
What does it mean that a sperm nucleus is haploid?
It contains one set of chromosomes, rather than the two sets found in body cells.
Why is it important that the sperm nucleus is haploid?
It combines with the egg's haploid nucleus to restore the normal diploid number in the fertilised egg.
What is a neurone specialised to do?
Transmit electrical impulses through the nervous system.
How does a neurone’s long axon help it transmit impulses?
It carries impulses over a distance.
What is the function of a neurone’s branched ends?
They connect with other cells.
How does the myelin sheath help a neurone transmit impulses?
It insulates the axon, increasing the speed of impulse transmission.
What are muscle cells specialised to do?
Contract and produce force.
How do protein filaments shorten a muscle cell?
They slide past one another.
How does a muscle cell’s elongated shape support contraction?
It allows the cell to contract along its length.
How do mitochondria support muscle cell contraction?
Many mitochondria release energy by respiration.
What can muscle cells acting together in muscle tissue achieve?
They can produce movement or change the shape of an organ.
What do root hair cells absorb from the soil?
Water and mineral ions.
How does a root hair cell’s long extension help absorption?
It provides a large surface area for absorption.
How does a root hair cell’s thin cell wall help water enter?
It provides a short path for water to enter by osmosis.
Under what concentration condition do root hair cells actively take up mineral ions?
When the mineral ion concentration is lower in the soil than inside the cell.
How do mitochondria support active uptake of mineral ions by root hair cells?
They release energy by respiration for active uptake.
What is translocation in plants?
The transport of dissolved sugars and other organic substances in the phloem, from regions where they are supplied to regions where they are used or stored.
How are sieve tube elements arranged to form phloem tubes?
Living sieve tube elements join end to end.
How are sieve tube end walls adapted to allow sap to pass through?
They form sieve plates with pores through which sap can pass.
How do sieve tube elements reduce obstruction to sap flow?
They have little internal cell contents.
How do companion cells support the loading of substances into the phloem?
Their many mitochondria release energy for processes involved in loading.