GCSE Combined Science revision · Biology: cells, organisation and disease

Cells and specialised cells

The idea

Animal and plant cells are eukaryotic: their DNA is in a nucleus. Bacteria are prokaryotic: they are smaller, have no nucleus, and their DNA is a single loop, often with small rings called plasmids. Plant cells also have a cellulose cell wall and often a permanent vacuole; cells that photosynthesise have chloroplasts (root hair cells do not). Cells differentiate to become specialised, such as sperm, nerve, muscle, root hair, xylem and phloem cells.

  1. Name the part.
  2. State its function.
  3. Link the cell's structure to its job.

Watch out Bacteria do have cell walls; they lack a nucleus, not a wall.

See it worked

Worked example

Explain how a root hair cell is adapted to absorb water and mineral ions.

  1. Its long hair-like projection gives a large surface area.
  2. It has many mitochondria to release energy for active transport of mineral ions.

Answer A large surface area for water uptake, and many mitochondria for active transport

Your turn

Question 1Calculator allowed1 mark

Which structure is found in plant cells but not in animal cells?

Choose one
Question 2Calculator allowed1 mark

Where is the genetic material in a bacterial cell?

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Question 3Calculator allowed1 mark

What is the function of mitochondria?

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In past papers

43 official questions in 36 papers since 2018. The latest:

All GCSE Combined Science past papers

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Independent practice for AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy (8464), not endorsed by AQA.

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