SPECIALIZED CELLS
Recall… CELLS are the basic unit of structure and function in living things
Level of Organization Cells Tissues Organs Organ System Organism
Levels of Organization
Specialized Cells Organisms have many different types of cells and each has it’s own function. each has physical and chemical differences suited to their functions.
Blood Cells Red blood cells White blood cells Platelets Carries oxygen and carbon dioxide White blood cells Fight infection and disease Platelets Clotting
Epidermal (Skin) Cells Overlap to provide protection and reduce water loss No blood vessels, nourished by oxygen from air
Bone cells Collect calcium from food Help create the body’s skeleton
Muscle Cells Long and thin contract/relax easily Function: Move muscles which move skeleton
Sperm Cells Mobile cell with a flagellum (tail) lots of mitochondria. Pointy front to penetrate egg Function Male gamete for sexual reproduction
Nerve Cell Long extensions that carry messages a long distance through the body
Adipose (fat) Cells Spherical cell with large fat-filled vacuole Function: Fat storage
Stem Cells A cell that can differentiate into different cells (skin, liver, muscle, nerve, brain) Unspecialized
Embryonic Stem Cells Can become any cell in the adult body Found in newly fertilized eggs or cells produced from the first couple of cell divisions
Cord Blood Banking Umbilical Cord blood is rich with stem cells can be stored in the event that a child would need it Ex: Leukemia
Adult Stem Cells Can only differentiate into a limited number of types of cells closely related to the stem cell type Bone marrow can differentiate into WBC, RBC or platelets (ex: leukemia)