Eukaryote vs Prokaryote
Eukaryote
A Eukaryote is a cell that contains their genetic material (DNA) in the nucleus. Both Animal and Plant cells are Eukaryotes
Features
Animal Cell
- Cell membrane
- Cytoplasm
- Nucleus
- Ribosome
- Mitochondria
Prokaryote
A Prokaryote is a cell where the genetic material is not enclosed in a nucleus
- Their genetic material consists of one loop of DNA
- The might also have small rings of DNA called Plasmids
Features
- DNA loop
- Plasmids
- Cytoplasm
- Cell Wall
- Cell Membrane
Differences
- Prokaryotes are much smaller
- Prokaryotes have no nucleus
Cell Specialisation
Animal
Most animal cells are specialised which means they have adaptations which help them carry out a particular function when cells become specialised it’s called differentiation
Sperm Cell
- Only contain half of genetic information
- Long tail to swim and are streamlined
- Packed with mitochondria for energy to swim
- Contain enzymes to digest their way through outer layer of ovum
Nerve Cell
- Their job is to send electrical impulse around body
- They have axon to carry impulses
- Axon covered with myelin to insulate and speed up transfer of impulse
- have synapse to allow impulse to pass to one nerve to next
- dendrites to increase surface area so other nerves connect easier
Muscle Cell
- Can contract they contain protein fibres to do this
- Packed full of mitochondria to provide energy for contraction
- Work together to form muscle tissue
Plant
Xylem
- Found in plant stem
- Form long tubes to carry water dissolve minerals from roots to leaves
- Very thick walls containing lignin to support plant, causes xylem cells to die
- End walls between cells broken to form a tube
- No nucleus, cytoplasm, vacuole chloroplasts
Phloem
- Carry dissolved sugars up and down plant
- Consists of phloem vessel cells, no nucleus with limited cytoplasm. And the end walls of these have pores called sieve plates, these feature allow dissolved sugars to move through
- Each vessel cell has a companion cell with lots of mitochondria for energy for active transport
Root hair cell
- Hairs on roots to increase surface area
- Do not contain chloroplasts
- Use Active Transport to absorb ions from the soil
Stem Cells
A stem cell is an undifferentiated cell and is capable of differentiating into other types of cells.
- Human/Animal
- Embryonic stem cells - found in embryo and can differentiate into any body cell
- Adult stem cells - found in bone marrow and differentiates to form cells in Blood
- Plant
- Meristem tissue (found in roots and buds) can differentiate into any cell at any point can be used to produced clones