Lesson 4 - Cell Modifications

Lesson 4: Cell Modifications
General Biology 1
Mr. Arvin Jay R. Lamberte
Teacher
Lesson Objective:
• Describe some cell

modifications that
lead to adaptation to
carry out specialized
functions.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
KICKSTARTER:
Choose the words that can be associated to cell modifications on a separate sheet of paper.
Differentiation Root hairs Protein Cell division Replication

Specialization Basal Synthesis Pseudopodia Cell cycle
Microvilli Apical Flagella Cytoplasm Cilia
DNA Nerve cells
Cell Modification
• These are changes that some of the cells must undergo.
• It occurs after cell division where the newly formed cells are
structurally modified so that they can perform their function
efficiently and effectively.
• It is sometimes called cell specialization.
• Cells do this to adapt with its environment.
CELL MODIFICATION
Apical Modification Lateral Modification Basal Modification
A type of cell modification
A type of cell modification A type of cell modification
that is found on the basal
that is found on the apical that is found on the lateral
or bottom surface of the
or top surface of the cell or side surface of the cell
cell
1. Cilia and Flagella 1. Gap Junction
1. Desmosomes/
2. Villi and Microvilli 2. Tight Junction
Hemidesmosomes
3. Pseudopods 3. Adherens Junction
CELL MODIFICATION
Apical Modification
A type of cell modification that is found on the apical or top surface of the cell
1. Cilia and Flagella

• Cilia are usually short, hair Cilia could be motile or non-motile.
– like structures that move
in waves. Motile – used for movement
• Flagella are long whiplike
Non-Motile – used for sensory
structures.
• Formed from microtubules.
Examples of Cilia
Cells on the wall of the Respiratory tract. Cells on the wall of the Fallopian tube.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY
Examples of Flagella
Sperm cell and Bacteria
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

CELL MODIFICATION
Apical Modification
2. Villi and Microvilli

• These are finger-like projections
that arise from the epithelial layer
in some organs.
• They help to increase surface area
for faster and more efficient
absorption
• Microvilli are smaller projections
The cells on the intestine have villi for
nutrients absorption.
CELL MODIFICATION
Apical Modification
3. Pseudopods
• “False feet”
• These are temporary, irregular
lobes formed by amoebas and
some other eukaryotic cells.
• It is used for movement and
ingestion or phagocytosis.
White blood cells eating foreign
microorganisms.
CELL MODIFICATION
cell
1. Desmosomes/
Hemidesmosomes
CELL MODIFICATION
Lateral Modification
A type of cell modification that is found on the lateral or side surface of the cell
1. Gap Junction
• They are channels between neighboring
cells that allow for the transport of ions,
water, and other substances.
• In vertebrates, gap junctions develop
when a set of six membrane proteins
called connexins form an elongated,
donut-like structure called a connexon.
Gap junctions are particularly important in cardiac muscle: the electrical
signal to contract spreads rapidly between heart muscle cells as ions pass
through gap junctions, allowing the cells to contract in tandem.
CELL MODIFICATION
2. Tight Junction
• Tight junctions create a watertight seal
between two adjacent animal cells.
• The purpose of tight junctions is to keep
liquid from escaping between cells,
allowing a layer of cells to act as an
impermeable barrier.
• Cells are held tightly against each other by
many individual groups of tight junction
proteins called claudins.
CELL MODIFICATION
3. Adherens Junction
• It anchors junction on
the lateral surface of
the cell
• Actin and Cadherin
Filaments are attached
to each of the cells to
form the adhesion.
CELL MODIFICATION
cell
1. Desmosomes/
Hemidesmosomes
CELL MODIFICATION
Basal Modification
A type of cell modification that is found on the basal or bottom surface of the cell
1. Desmosomes/Hemidesmosomes
• The anchoring junction on the Basal
surface of the cell
• Primarily composed of keratin, integrins
and cadherins.
• Hemidesmosomes are multiprotein
complexes that facilitate the stable
adhesion of basal epithelial cells to the
underlying basement membrane.

Lesson 4 - Cell Modifications

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Lesson 4 - Cell Modifications

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Lesson 4: Cell Modifications

• Describe some cell

Differentiation Root hairs Protein Cell division Replication

1. Cilia and Flagella

Sperm cell and Bacteria

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

2. Villi and Microvilli

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