Cell Differentiation What makes us so different, but still the same.

What do you find in plant cells that you do not find in animal cells? What do you find in animal cells that you do not find in plant cells?

Not all cells are created equal… We know the difference between a plant and animal cell, but are all plants and animals exactly the same?

Why Not?

What is cell differentiation? cellular differentiation is the process by which a less specialized cell becomes a more specialized cell type.

Why differentiate cells? Because the various cells of each plant and animals need to perform different functions! –Differentiation dramatically changes a cell's size, shape, membrane potential, metabolic activity, and responsiveness to signals.

How do cells differentiate? Cellular differentiation almost never involves a change in the DNA sequence itself. –Thus, different cells can have very different physical characteristics despite having the same genome These changes are largely due to highly controlled modifications in gene expression.

Some different plant cells Roots, Stems, and leaves need to perform different functions, so the cells will be different.

Leaf cells Leaves main role is performing photosynthesis. That means these cells will be packed with chloroplasts.

Plant Stem Cells Plant Stem cells need to be able to transport water and nutrients to various parts of the plant. These cells form clusters of tubes for transport. –The tubes are known as Xylem and Phloem. –They provide structure for the plant, just like the skeleton provides structure for animals.

Root cells Root cells need to be able to grow in the search for and absorb water & minerals.

Muscle cells Muscle cells are designed to contract and relax allowing for movement.

Nerve cells Nerve cells are designed to receive and transmit impulses from one area to another.

Blood Blood is responsible for transporting various materials to and from the cells. It also patrols the body as part of the defense system.

Blood Red blood cells are responsible for transporting oxygen to cells throughout the body. –These cells have NO nucleus. It is pushed out so there is more hemoglobin the protein that holds onto oxygen.

Blood Platelets are critical for clotting when blood vessels are injured. Platelets are fragments of a bone marrow cell – so they do not contain a nucleus. White blood cells are the bodies defenders against the invaders such as bacteria. Larger than red blood cells.

Epithelial cells Epithelial cells make up the tissues covering the body as well as lining the organs and cavities of the body.

A skin cell versus a Throat cell