Cell Specialisation
Cells in multicellular organisms often become specialised, sharing out jobs. This often means that the cell can do the job better but at the expense of performing another task.
For example muscle cells have specialised so they have become very good at pulling and so cause movement. They cannot get their own food and need to be told when to contract. Muscle cells rely on other cells to be able to do the things that they cannot do.
When cells specialise they often have special shapes or structures which will enable them to carry out their functions better.
| Cell | Specialisation |
|---|---|
| Red blood cell | Contains haemoglobin to carry oxygen. Bi-concave disc shape to increase surface are for movement of oxygen. No nucleus, so that it can carry more haemoglobin. |
| Muscle cell | Fibres which can contract making the cell get shorter. |
| Nerve cell | Long fibres to transmit electrical impulses from one part of the body to another, quickly. |
| Root hair cell | Very large cell vacuole to aid water absorption by osmosis. Long protrusion to increase the surface area for absorption. |
| Palisade cell | Many chloroplasts for photosynthesis. |
