Lesson 6 of 9

Specialised cells

Goal: Explain how a cell’s features suit its job.

Puzzles for this lesson

Specialised cells have special features that suit them to one job.

Swipe to meet all seven.

Job: Carries oxygen around the body.

Feature: No nucleus, so there is more room to carry oxygen.

Job: Swims to the egg cell.

Feature: A tail to swim, and lots of mitochondria for energy.

Job: Joins with a sperm cell to start a new life.

Feature: Very large, with a food store in the cytoplasm.

Job: Carries electrical signals around the body.

Feature: Very long, with branched ends to connect to other cells.

Job: Sweeps mucus and dust out of the airways.

Feature: Tiny hairs called cilia that wave back and forth.

Job: Absorbs water and minerals from the soil.

Feature: A long thin hair gives a large surface area.

Job: Makes food for the plant by photosynthesis.

Feature: Packed with chloroplasts to absorb light.

Exam tip: name the feature, then say how it helps. “It has a tail so it can swim to the egg.”

Your turn

This lesson’s activity starts here in a moment.

I can match a cell to its job.I can link one feature to how it helps.

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Cell Smallest building block of a living thing

Nucleus Controls the cell

Cytoplasm Jelly where reactions happen

Mitochondria Release energy by respiration

Chloroplasts Absorb light for photosynthesis

Specialised cell Cell with special features for one job

For teachers: AQA 3.8.2 · Cambridge 7Bs.03