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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of skin cells in the body?
Which type of stem cell can differentiate into any kind of cell?
What characteristic distinguishes cardiac muscle cells from skeletal muscle cells?
What is a key role of red blood cells in the body?
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In which way are white blood cells primarily involved in the body’s defense?
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What is a distinguishing feature of nerve cells (neurons)?
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How do tissue stem cells differ from embryonic stem cells?
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Which function is NOT performed by fat cells?
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Study Notes
Specialized cells
- A specialized cell performs a specific function within an organism
- Each specialized cell has certain genes turned "on" and others "off"
- This allows for specialized cells to perform specific tasks
Examples of Specialized Cells
- Skin cells provide protection from the external environment and reduce water loss
- Bone cells collect calcium from food and allow for the growth and repair of bones
- Fat cells have large vacuoles to store fat molecules, a form of chemical energy
- Skeletal muscle cells are arranged in bundles called muscle fibers, which contract and relax to move bones
- Cardiac muscle cells beat continuously on their own, synchronizing contractions and conducting electrical impulses
- Red blood cells carry oxygen and carbon dioxide around the body
- White blood cells are ameoboid cells that engulf bacteria and fight infection
- Sperm cells have flagella to help them swim outside the body, carrying male DNA to join with female DNA (egg)
- Nerve cells (neurons) are long, thin, and branched, and conduct electrical impulses to coordinate body activity
Stem Cells
- A stem cell is an undifferentiated cell that can divide to form specialized cells
- Embryonic stem cells can differentiate into any kind of cell
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Tissue stem cells are adult cells existing within specialized tissues, and can only differentiate into certain types of cells
- For example, bone marrow cells can differentiate into white blood cells, red blood cells, or platelets
Stem Cell Uses
- Stem cells are used in the field of regenerative medicine
- Cord blood banking stores stem cells for potential later use
- Stem cells also have ethical implications
- Research and use of embryonic stem cells has generated ethical and moral debates
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Description
This quiz explores the various types of specialized cells in organisms and their specific functions. You will learn about skin cells, bone cells, muscle cells, blood cells, and their unique roles in maintaining biological processes. Test your knowledge of cellular specialization and its importance in the body.
