Specialized Cells

Recap
• Cells are “like” tiny factories
• Design and shape of a cell is
dictated by it’s:
• function
• conditions
• Most cells have the same
collection of organelles
 “All by myself”

• Unicellular organisms are usually

very complex cells
• Must depend on only one cell for
everything
 I’m Special
• Multicellular organisms can / must
have specialized cells.
• The cells can rely on other cells to
carry out other functions important
to the organism.
• functions not important to that
cell.

www.herbs-hands-healing.co.uk/pictures/superfood/redbloodcells.jpg
 Examples

• Red Blood Cells

• Nerve Cells
• Oil Glands
• Muscle Cells
• Plant Cells
 Red Blood Cells
• Flexible disc-like flattened membranes for
max surface area.

• Transport Oxygen from lungs to cells.

• 33% hemoglobin - 15% in typical cells.

• Made for limited-time use (~120 days)

• lack most organelles

• No nuclei - No DNA

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ethanhein/2383172799/
tp://www.rheology.org/sor/publications/Rheology_B/Jul04/FlowingRedBloodCells.jpg
 No DNA?

• Red Blood Cells do not contain DNA.

• DNA is a blueprint, not command center.

• RBCs are mad in bone marrow and lose

their nucleus during maturation.

• Why are blood samples used for DNA

testing?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ethanhein/2383172799/
 Nerve Cells
• Rapid conduction of
messages
• Long and many branches
that connect to other nerve
cells

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerve_cell
 Gland Cells

• Many Golgi
apparati
• Secrete oils

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/muscle-smooth-contracted.jpg
 Other Vesicle
Examples
• After packaging the vesicles bud off and are
stored in the cell until a signal is given for
their release. When the appropriate signal is
received they move towards the membrane
and fuse to release their contents.

• Oil Glands

• Antibody release

• Neurotransmitter release from neurons

 Muscle Cells
• Must generate a lot of force

• microfibers
Big mitochondria and many

http://www.cellsbewell.com/images/mitochondria.jpg
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/muscle-smooth-contracted.jpg
p://faculty.etsu.edu/forsman/Histology%20of%20musclefor%20web_files/image009.jpg
 Green Cells
• Plant cells with chloroplasts to carry out
photosynthesis

• Not all plant cells have chloroplasts

• Potatoes
green)
do not have chloroplasts (not

• Potatoes have leucoplasts to store energy,

green leaves do not.

• Should plant cells with or without

chloroplasts be the “specialized” cells?
 Why?
• Our bodies have different levels of
organization

• cells - tissue - organs - systems

• In most plants, animals, and fungi,
cells are organized into different
types of tissues.

• Tissues are groups of cells that carry

out a common function
 Review
• cells in tissue perform specific
functions
• Contain different types and
number of organelles found in a
“typical” cell.
• Cells are a “factory”
• Cells are specialized
 Review

• Not all cells have to perform all of

the functions of a factory if they
are found in
• specilazed tissues
• an organ system
 Quiz

1.Why do red blood cells not need a nucleus?

2.What organelle do muscle cells have more of
than a “typical” animal cell?
3.Are cells more like a factory or a city?
4.Why would the cell of a unicellular organisms
be larger than animal cells?
Mr. Nupen 12-13-
09
Resources

• http://www.beyondbooks.com/lif71/
4h.asp
• http://health.howstuffworks.com/blood1.
• http://www.newton.dep.ani.gov/askasci/m