Plant and animal cells have several key similarities and differences. Both contain a nucleus that controls the cell's functions, cytoplasm where chemical reactions occur, and a cell membrane that holds the cell together and regulates what enters and exits. However, plant cells also have a cell wall, vacuoles, and chloroplasts for photosynthesis. Animal cells come in many specialized types, while plant cell specializations allow them to trap sunlight and store energy as food. The structure and features of a cell provide clues to its specific functions in the body or organism.

1. Specialised cells
Target: to know more about specialised cells.
Wednesday, February 8, 2017

2. Get to know your cells
Plant Animal Virus Bacteria
Not to scale
There are lots and lots of different kinds of cells in
each of the above groups.
Not
strictly a
cell!

3. The simplest “cell” is a virus
It is very small-about 10000 times
smaller than any of your body cells.
So lets make it a bit bigger
Protein coat
Single strand of
DNA
Small and not very
nice, when they get
inside your body cells.
Don’t
forget its
not
usually
classified
as a cell.

4. BacteriaBacteria are
about 100 times
smaller than a
body cell
They do not
have a nucleus. cytoplasm
The DNA floats
about in the
cytoplasm.
Cell membraneCell wall

5. Animal cellsComplex
organisms like
you are made
up of many
different kinds
of cells.
Nucleus controls
what the cell does.
Contains the DNA
(with genes )
Cytoplasm is where
all the chemical
reactions take place.
Cell membrane
holds the cell
together and
controls what
goes in and out of
the cell.

6. Plant cellPlant cells are very
special as they can
trap sunlight and
store the energy as
“plant food”
Nucleus
controls
what the cell
does.
Contains
the DNA
Cytoplasm is where
all the chemical
reactions take place.
Cell membrane
holds the cell
together and controls
what goes in and out
of the cell
Chloroplasts
containing
chlorophyll for
photosynthesis
Vacuole
containing cell
sap, a solution
of sugar and
salts.
Ridged cell wall
made of cellulose,
gives support for the
cell

7. Comparing animal cell and plant cells
Both cells have:-
A nucleus
Cytoplasm
Cell
membrane
But only plant
cells have:-
A cell wall
A vacuole
Chloroplasts
Remember there are lots of different kinds of animal
and plant cells but all of them have the above features

8. Questions
Page 16

9. The design of a cell is a clue to its function.
This group of four
cells are very thin.
This would allow
small molecules to
pass through them
So what do you
think this cell is
specialised for.
These cells are
specialised for lining
blood capillaries.
If you look
carefully you
can usually
work out
what the cell
speciality is.

10. Can you work out what this cell’s function is?
The obvious
feature is the
hairs.
Hairs on cell
usually indicate
that its function is
for moving
something.
This cell is
specialised for
moving egg cells
inside the female
reproductive
systems.

11. The obvious features on this group of cells
are the hairs and the layer of mucus
Can you work out what this group of cells function
is?
They line the tubes of
the lung. The hairs
make the sticky
mucus move up the
tubes, carrying any
bits of dust from the
air out of the lung.
They can be easily
damaged.

12. Here are two cell you should be familiar with!
Concave shape.
(gives it a
large surface
area) Very
smooth. It is
also the only
cell without a
nucleus.
It has a big nucleus and can change
shape. It can produce antibodies
and antitoxins. A useful “chap” to
have around when you are in
trouble.
Red blood cell
White
blood cell

13. Questions
Page 14 and 15

14. OK lets find out what you have learned!
1 to 4
The drawing shows a bacterium.
Match words from the list with
each of the labels 1—4 on the
drawing.
A region containing genes
B cell wall
C cytoplasm
D cell membrane
1
2
3
4

15. 5
6
7
8
A white blood cell
B cell found in the gullet
C sperm cell
D capillary wall cell
The drawings show four kinds of cell that
are found in the human body. Match up
there names.

16. The drawings show four kinds
of cell that are found in the
human body.
A
B
C D
9. Which kind of cell is specialised
for ingesting microbes?
10. Which kind of cell is specialised
for communicating with many other
cells?
11. Which kind of cell is specialised
for moving egg cells inside the female
reproductive system?
12. Which kind of cell is specialised
for moving oxygen around the body?

17. Cells
Tissues
Organs
Systems
Organisms