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Adaptations of various eukaryotic cells in terms of cell ultrastructure (organelles)

Title says it all really :') can anyone list (and explain) the adaptations of various different eukaryotic cells, in terms of the organelles present? thanks :smile:
Reply 1
Original post by tdx
Title says it all really :') can anyone list (and explain) the adaptations of various different eukaryotic cells, in terms of the organelles present? thanks :smile:


Hi :smile:
I think the best one to use is a sperm cell, as it is easy to link structure to function:
- Many mitochondria for ATP production, to allow movement
- Undulipodium (tail) for movement towards egg
- Acrosome (specialised lysosome) to help the sperm penetrate the egg
- Diploid nucleus, as it is a gamete

That's the main one we used at AS, because it is easy to explain why the sperm has to move etc.
Hope it helps!
Reply 2
Original post by tdx
Title says it all really :') can anyone list (and explain) the adaptations of various different eukaryotic cells, in terms of the organelles present? thanks :smile:


neutrophil (type of phagocyte - a type of white blood cell)
contain many lysosomes (contain 'digestive enzymes' to break down pathogens and dead parts of cell during phagocytosis)
contain many mitochondria (for energy from ATP needed for phagocytosis)

erythrocyte (red blood cell)
no nucleus (for maximum room in cell for haemoglobin laden oxygen)
bi-concave disc shape to allow the cell to fit through narrow blood vessels like capillaries

as well as sperm, that's probably what you'll need for AS. Remember the plant cell stuff too - guard cells :blah:
Reply 3
Original post by emmaarr
Hi :smile:
I think the best one to use is a sperm cell, as it is easy to link structure to function:
- Many mitochondria for ATP production, to allow movement
- Undulipodium (tail) for movement towards egg
- Acrosome (specialised lysosome) to help the sperm penetrate the egg
- Diploid nucleus, as it is a gamete

That's the main one we used at AS, because it is easy to explain why the sperm has to move etc.
Hope it helps!



Original post by Pride
neutrophil (type of phagocyte - a type of white blood cell)
contain many lysosomes (contain 'digestive enzymes' to break down pathogens and dead parts of cell during phagocytosis)
contain many mitochondria (for energy from ATP needed for phagocytosis)

erythrocyte (red blood cell)
no nucleus (for maximum room in cell for haemoglobin laden oxygen)
bi-concave disc shape to allow the cell to fit through narrow blood vessels like capillaries

as well as sperm, that's probably what you'll need for AS. Remember the plant cell stuff too - guard cells :blah:


thanks :smile:
Original post by emmaarr
Hi :smile:
I think the best one to use is a sperm cell, as it is easy to link structure to function:
- Many mitochondria for ATP production, to allow movement
- Undulipodium (tail) for movement towards egg
- Acrosome (specialised lysosome) to help the sperm penetrate the egg
- Diploid nucleus, as it is a gamete

That's the main one we used at AS, because it is easy to explain why the sperm has to move etc.
Hope it helps!


Isn't a gamete nucleus haploid?
Reply 5
Yes, haploid - half DNA, diploid in normal cells :smile:
Reply 6
Original post by ScienceFreak94
Isn't a gamete nucleus haploid?


Sorry, yes of course it is! Silly me :colondollar:

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