Cell Specialization All cells begin alike and differentiate

Cell Specialization All cells begin alike and differentiate into specialized cells 1

Is one cell type enough? Think of all the different types of cells you have in your body (muscle, skin, nerve, bone, fat, blood, etc. ) Question: what would be the challenges if you were composed of only a single cell type? 2

Specialized Cells Complex organisms need many different types of specialized cells to carry out different functions for the survival of the organism. http: //leavingbio. net/C ELL%20 DIVERSITY_file s/image 003. jpg 3

Cell Specialization Cell specialization refers to the fact that different types of cells have different structures and abilities that enable them to perform their functions efficiently. 4

Characteristics of Specialized Cells Muscle cells: are long and thin which allows them to contract and relax easily Have lots of mitochondria to provide energy for movement http: //www. nytimes. com/imagepages/200 7/08/01/health/adam/19841 Typesofmuscl etissue. html http: //www. google. ca/imgres? imgurl=http: //diversi tyofsystems. wikispaces. com/file/view/351 Blabele d_copy. jpg/32001087/351 Blabeled_copy. jpg&img refurl=http: //diversityofsystems. wikispaces. com/S %2526 F%2 BMuscle%2 BFibers%2 BAli&usg=__J x 2 LLx. O 33 wz. Fy. V 3 S 3 l. Ummeb. DPw=&h=480&w=640&sz=72&hl=en&start=4& zoom=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=l. TWWRjr. Kyjbyj. M: & tbnh=103&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3 Fq%3 Dm uscle%2 Bcells%26 um%3 D 1%26 hl%3 Den%26 sa %3 DN%26 ndsp%3 D 20%26 tbs%3 Disch: 1 5

Characteristics of Specialized Cells Nerve cells (neurons): Have long threadlike branches which enable the cells to receive and transmit signals from other parts of the body http: //www. technovelgy. com/graphics/content/nervecell. jpg http: //activebodyreadymind. com/images/Nerve. jpg 6

Characteristics of Specialized Cells Red blood cells: Are doughnut in shape which provides more surface area to carry oxygen http: //www. fi. edu/learn/heart/blood/images/red-blood-cells. jpg http: //doctorgrasshopper. files. wordpress. com/2010/02/red-blood 7 cells. jpg

Characteristics of Specialized Cells http: //www. hartnell. cc. ca. us/faculty/aedens/Bio 6 L/tissue-connect-bone. jpg Bone cells: Have a framework of hard material, which contains minerals that provide strength and support, hold the cells together http: //www. google. ca/imgres? imgurl=http: //micro. magnet. fsu. edu/primer/techniques/phasegallery/ images/humanpathology/humanbone. jpg&imgrefurl=http: //micro. magnet. fsu. edu/primer/techniqu es/phasegallery/humanbone. html&usg=__m 3 VINjf. Oy. H 2 IWb. Iw 6 a 88 EFBM_ko=&h=470&w=306& sz=61&hl=en&start=7&zoom=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=6 fce_sa. Mu 6 KLJM: &tbnh=129&tbnw=84&pr ev=/images%3 Fq%3 Dbone%2 Bcells%26 um%3 D 1%26 hl%3 Den%26 sa%3 DX%26 tbs%3 Disch: 1 8

Characteristics of Specialized Cells Skin cells: Are thin, flat and layered to form a gap-free barrier to keep out potential invaders and keep in moisture http: //www. istockphoto. com/file_thumbview_approve/1813198/2/istockphoto_1813198 -skintissue-section. jpg http: //www. eczemadailycare. ca/images/p-01 -Skin-and-zoom. jpg 9

Characteristics of Specialized Cells Sperm cells: Have a long whip-like tail which they use to propel themselves forward http: //topnews. in/health/files/spermcells. jpg 10

The Beginning: Stem Cells All cells start their lives as identical cells called stem cells. Stem cells have the potential to develop into all the different types of specialized cells that make you, as they mature (i. e. muscle cell, skin cell, etc. ) The process by which a stem cell “chooses” and develops into a specialized cell is called cell differentiation. 11

Cell Differentiation Cell differentiation is a very hot topic among scientists. If we can understand how cells differentiate, we can trigger stem cells to become any type of cell that’s needed to repair damaged or dysfunctional tissues. http: //4. bp. blogspot. com/_4 cp. HRWD 5 Y 6 I/TIZQma 02 YFI/AAAAAM/Re Cx. Wellw. Jc/s 1600/-stem-cells+1. jpg 12

Potential Uses of Stem Cell Therapy http: //s 3. hubig. c om/u/111006 6_f 520. jpg 13