Importance of Cell Differentiation (Edexcel IGCSE Biology)

Revision Note

Lára Marie McIvor

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Cell Differentiation & Specialised Cells

  • The structural differences between different types of cells enable them to perform specific functions within the organism

  • Cell differentiation is an important process by which a cell changes to become specialised

    • Cell differentiation is how cells develop the structure and characteristics needed to be able to carry out their functions

    • Specialised cells are those that have developed certain characteristics that allow them to perform particular functions. These differences are controlled by genes in the nucleus

  • As an organism develops, cells differentiate to form different types of cells

  • When a cell differentiates, it develops a structure and composition of subcellular structures which enables it to carry out a certain function

    • E.g. to form a nerve cell the cytoplasm and cell membrane of an undifferentiated cell must elongate to form connections over large distances

Differentiation, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Diagram showing the possible differentiation of a human cell into two different cell types

Differentiation and development

  • As a multicellular organism develops, its cells differentiate to form specialised cells

    • In an animal, most cells differentiate at an early stage of development

    • As a result, animal cells lose their ability to differentiate early in the life of the organism

  • Specific cells in various locations throughout the body of an animal retain the ability to differentiate throughout the life of the animal

    • These undifferentiated cells are called adult stem cells and they are mainly involved in replacing and repairing cells (such as blood or skin cells)

  • Plants differ from animals in that many types of plant cells retain the ability to fully differentiate throughout the life of a plant, not just in the early stages of development

Examples of specialised cells

Ciliated cell

  • Ciliated cells move mucus in the trachea and bronchi

  • They have hair-like extensions called cilia, which beat to transport mucus and trapped particles toward the throat

Ciliated Cells, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Ciliated epithelial cells

Nerve cell

  • Nerve cells conduct impulses and are long, allowing communication between different parts of the body and the central nervous system

  • Their axons are covered in a fatty sheath that insulates and speeds up nerve transmission

Nerve Cell, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

A nerve cell

Red blood cell

  • Red blood cells transport oxygen efficiently due to their biconcave shape, increasing surface area for oxygen diffusion

  • They contain haemoglobin and lack a nucleus, maximizing space for oxygen transport

Red Blood Cells, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Red blood cells

Root hair cell

  • Root hair cells absorb water and mineral ions from the soil

  • Their long extensions increase surface area for maximum absorption, and their thin walls help water move quickly through them

Root Hair Cell, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Root hair cell

Palisade mesophyll cell

  • Palisade mesophyll cells perform photosynthesis and are column-shaped to maximize light absorption

  • They contain numerous chloroplasts and are tightly packed beneath the upper epidermis of the leaf to optimize photosynthesis

Palisade Mesophyll Cell, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Palisade mesophyll cell

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Lára Marie McIvor

Author: Lára Marie McIvor

Expertise: Biology Lead

Lára graduated from Oxford University in Biological Sciences and has now been a science tutor working in the UK for several years. Lára has a particular interest in the area of infectious disease and epidemiology, and enjoys creating original educational materials that develop confidence and facilitate learning.