Practise Cell differentiation. 11 exam-style questions on this subtopic, at up to four difficulty levels, with full mark schemes and a progress tracker. Free, no account needed.
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Name the tissue in plants in which cells keep dividing and differentiating throughout the life of the plant.
meristem
Sample questions
Written for this site in the style of AQA exam questions. They are not taken from real past papers.
Question 1Easy4 marks
As an organism develops, its cells differentiate.
(a) What is meant by cell differentiation?[1]
(b) When do most types of animal cell differentiate? Tick (✓) one box.[1]
At an early stage of development
Only after birth
Throughout the life of the animal
Only when the animal is injured
(c) In mature animals, cell division is mainly restricted to two purposes. Name one of these purposes.[1]
(d) Which statement about plant cells is correct? Tick (✓) one box.[1]
Many types of plant cell keep the ability to differentiate throughout life.
Plant cells can only differentiate inside seeds.
Plant cells lose the ability to differentiate once the plant has leaves.
Only root cells can differentiate.
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)
the process by which a cell becomes specialised (to carry out a particular function)
(b)Answer: At an early stage of development
(c)
repair / replacement (of cells)
(d)Answer: Many types of plant cell keep the ability to differentiate throughout life.
Question 2Medium6 marks
A fertilised egg divides many times to form an embryo. The cells of the embryo then differentiate.
(a) Explain why cell differentiation is important for a multicellular organism.[2]
(b) When a cell in a young leaf differentiates into a palisade cell, it develops many chloroplasts. Explain why.[2]
(c) Compare the ability of cells to differentiate in mature animals and in mature plants.[2]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)
it produces specialised cells / cells with different functions
so that the organism can form tissues / organs that carry out all of its life processes (efficiently)
(b)
palisade cells carry out most of the photosynthesis (in the leaf)
chloroplasts contain chlorophyll which absorbs light (for photosynthesis)
(c)
most animal cells differentiate at an early stage / in mature animals cell division is mainly for repair and replacement
many types of plant cell keep the ability to differentiate throughout life
Question 3Hard6 marks
A gardener can grow a whole new plant from a small piece of stem cut from a plant. A human cannot regrow a finger that has been lost in an accident.
(a) Explain the difference between the plant and the human.[3]
(b) Axolotls are amphibians that can regrow a lost leg. Scientists found that cells near the wound lose their specialised features and then divide rapidly. Suggest how this allows a new leg to grow.[2]
(c) Suggest one reason why scientists study how axolotls regrow their legs.[1]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)
many types of plant cell keep the ability to differentiate throughout life
so cells in the stem can divide and differentiate into all the types of cell needed, e.g. to form roots
most animal cells differentiate at an early stage (and cannot then form other types of cell)
in mature animals cell division is mainly for repair / replacement, not to form new organs
(b)
the cells become unspecialised (so they can differentiate again)
they divide (by mitosis) and then differentiate into the different types of cell needed, e.g. muscle, bone, skin
(c)
to find ways to repair / regrow damaged human tissues or organs