1. Cell Adaptation
To know how animal and plant cells are adapted for different functions
D. Crowley, 2007

2. All Animal Cells look the same
Animal cells may look different but they all have a nucleus
The cells of different animal cells are always different
Some animal cells look different because they need to do a special job

3. Recap
What parts of a cell are found within animal cells and plant cells?
Animal cells: -
Nucleus
Cell membrane
Cytoplasm
Plant cells: -
All of the above +
Cell wall
Vacuole
Chloroplasts

4. Specialised Cells
Consider the root hair cell:
It is “suited” to its job of taking in water and nutrients in 2 ways:
It has a large surface area
It has a thin cell membrane
The sperm cell is another example of a specialised cell:
Strong tail for swimming
Vacuole containing enzymes

5. Animal Cells * Make the drawings as clear, and accurate as possible
Cell Diagram
Function
Specialisation
Red blood cells
To carry oxygen
Large surface area for oxygen
Haemoglobin which binds the oxygen
Nerve cell
To carry nerve impulses to different parts of the body
Long
Connections at each end
Can carry electrical signals
Female reproductive cell
To join with a male cell, and then to provide food for the new cell that has formed
Large
Contains a large amount of cytoplasm
Male reproductive cell
To reach the female cell in order to join with it
Long tail for swimming
Head which is able to penetrate the female cell
* Make the drawings as clear, and accurate as possible

6. Plant Cells Plant Cell Cell Diagram Function Specialisation
Root hair cell
To absorb water and minerals
Large surface area
Leaf cell
To absorb sunlight (needed for photosynthesis)
Many chloroplasts (containing chlorophyll, needed for photosynthesis)

7. Summary
Finally, complete the worksheet, matching the pictures with the cell name, as well as its function…