Let’s explore a fundamental characteristic of multicellular organisms—cell differentiation and specialization. Before you get started, don’t forget to print out your OnTRACK Biology Journal.
TEKS Standards and Student Expectations
B(5) The student knows how an organism grows and the importance of cell differentiation. The student is expected to:
B(5)(B) Examine specialized cells, including roots, stems, and leaves of plants; and animal cells such as blood, muscle, and epithelium
Learning Objectives
Describe the process of cell differentiation and explain its importance.
Describe stem cells and their role in cell differentiation.
Explain how gene expression is related to cell differentiation and specialization.
Identify factors that can influence cell differentiation and specialization.
Describe specific examples of specialized plant and animal cells.
Essential Questions
What is cell differentiation and why is it important?
What role do stem cells play in cell differentiation?
How is gene expression related to cell differentiation and specialization?
What type of factors can influence cell differentiation and specialization?
How are plant and animal cells specialized?
Vocabulary
- Multicellular
- Unicellular
- Cell Differentiation
- DNA
- Stem Cells
- Chromosomes
- RNA
- Metamorphosis