New
New
Year 10
Edexcel
Higher

Specialised cells, unspecialised cells and differentiation

I can describe examples of specialised cells in humans and plants, and explain how unspecialised cells become specialised.

New
New
Year 10
Edexcel
Higher

Specialised cells, unspecialised cells and differentiation

I can describe examples of specialised cells in humans and plants, and explain how unspecialised cells become specialised.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Most cells in multicellular organisms are specialised – they have structures that are adapted for the jobs the cells.
  2. Multicellular organisms grow (make new cells by mitosis) and develop (make specialised cells to form tissues/organs).
  3. Unspecialised cells become specialised through a process called differentiation.
  4. During differentiation, particular genes in the cell’s genome are switched off or on.
  5. Specialised cells only use particular genes, so only make the proteins needed for the job they are adapted to do.

Common misconception

Only animals are multicellular; that specialised cells are individual; all DNA in a cell is the same so will produce the same proteins.

Examples of multicellular plants, with specialised cells, tissues and organs provided; show images of cells as tissues rather than just individual. All cells have the same DNA, but it is whether the genes are turned on that makes them specialise.

Keywords

  • Multicellular - Animal, plants and fungi made of more than one cell.

  • Specialised cell - Cells with adaptations to carry out a particular function in a multicellular organism.

  • Unspecialised cell - Cell with no specific function, but has the capability to turn into different types of cells.

  • Differentiation - The process of an unspecialised cell becoming a specialised one through the mechanism of turning genes on and off.

  • Gene - A short section of DNA that carries the genetic code to produce a protein.

Focus on the role of the genes in coding for proteins that causes the difference between cells of the same organism. Link this back to their understanding of the role of genes and gene expression.
Teacher tip

Equipment

None required.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
DNA is an organism's material.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: genetic
Q2.
How is DNA stored in plant and animal cells?
Correct answer: in chromosomes
free-floating in the cytoplasm
in plasmids
Q3.
Which of these organisms are multicellular?
Correct answer: ant
Correct answer: oak tree
yeast
bacteria
Correct answer: cress plant
Q4.
Put these in order of size starting with the smallest.
An image in a quiz
1 - DNA
2 - cell
3 - tissue
4 - organ
5 - organ system
Q5.
What is the process by which cells divide to produce identical cells?
transcription
meiosis
differentiation
Correct answer: mitosis
transpiration
Q6.
What is a gene?
A short section of DNA that carries proteins.
Correct answer: A short section of DNA that carries the genetic code.
A short section of DNA that carries amino acids.

6 Questions

Q1.
True or false? Most cells are adapted to their function.
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: true
false
Q2.
What is the name of the process by which unspecialised cells become specialised?
meiosis
Correct answer: differentiation
mitosis
Q3.
Match the cell to its specialised feature.
Correct Answer:egg cell,Stores nutrients for cell growth.

Stores nutrients for cell growth.

Correct Answer:sperm cell,Lots of mitochondria to provide energy for movement.

Lots of mitochondria to provide energy for movement.

Correct Answer:muscle cell,Lots of mitochondria to provide energy for contraction.

Lots of mitochondria to provide energy for contraction.

Correct Answer:intestinal cell,Folded membrane to increase surface area for absorption.

Folded membrane to increase surface area for absorption.

Correct Answer:phloem cell,Gaps in the cell wall to allow sugars to be transported.

Gaps in the cell wall to allow sugars to be transported.

Correct Answer:leaf epidermal cell,Waxy layer for protection.

Waxy layer for protection.

Q4.
True or false? If a protein is not needed by a cell then the gene that codes for it can be turned off.
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: true
false
Q5.
How do multicellular organisms grow and develop?
Correct answer: mitosis
Correct answer: differentiation
transcription
meiosis
Q6.
Put the level of organisation in the correct order starting with the smallest.
1 - specialised cell
2 - tissue
3 - organ
4 - organ system
5 - organism