CIE IGCSE Biology

Revision Notes

2.1.2 Organisation of Cells

Test Yourself

Producing New Cells

  • The cells in your body need to be able to divide to help your body grow and repair itself
  • Cells grow and divide over and over again
  • New cells are produced by the division of existing cells

Specialised Cells

Specialised cells in animals

  • Specialised cells are those which have developed certain characteristics in order to perform particular functions. These differences are controlled by genes in the nucleus
  • Cells specialise by undergoing differentiation: this is a process by which cells develop the structure and characteristics needed to be able to carry out their functions

Specialised Cells in Animals Table


Examples of specialised cells in animals table, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

 Diagrams of specialised cells in animals:

Ciliated Cells, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Ciliated cell

Nerve Cell, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Nerve cell

Red Blood Cells, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Red blood cells

Sperm Cell, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Sperm cell

Egg Cell, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Egg cell

Examples of specialised cells in plants:Examples of specialised cells in plants table, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Diagrams of specialised cells in plants:

Root Hair Cell, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Root hair cell

Xylem Structure, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Xylem structure

Palisade Mesophyll Cell, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Palisade mesophyll cell

Levels of Organisation in an Organism

Cells, Tissues, Organs & Organ Systems table, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Levels of organisation, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Levels of organisation

Tissue Examples table, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

  • Your syllabus states that you should be able to identify the different levels of organisation in drawings, diagrams and images of familiar material
  • An example of this is shown in the exam question below:

Typical levels of organisation question, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Typical levels of organisation question

Exam Tip

Most incorrect answers here come from not being able to identify a tissue, so it’s worth making sure you understand and remember that tissues are always made up of only one type of cell.

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Lára

Author: Lára

Lára graduated from Oxford University in Biological Sciences and has now been a science tutor working in the UK for several years. Lára has a particular interest in the area of infectious disease and epidemiology, and enjoys creating original educational materials that develop confidence and facilitate learning.