How cells specialize, and what stem cells are
Grade 9 Science Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.
Read this first
Cycle wheel (model, not to scale), clockwise from the top
G1, S, G2, mitosis (M), cytokinesis. A side branch labeled G0 leaves the wheel near the start of G1. A branch leaves the wheel at G0 and ends at a drawn cell A. Cell A has a round body with a nucleus, branching projections and one long projection.
Ari follows a side branch from the wheel to cell A. What does taking this branch show?
- The cell swaps its DNA for new DNA that fits the job
- The cell stays ready to divide into any other kind of cell
- The cell copies its DNA again and divides into two identical cells
- The cell leaves the cycle and becomes specialized, with a shape for its job
Cycle wheel (model, not to scale), clockwise from the top
G1, S, G2, mitosis (M), cytokinesis. A side branch labeled G0 leaves the wheel near the start of G1. Two branches leave the wheel after G1. Branch A ends at a flat, round cell A with a small nucleus in the middle. Branch B ends at a tall, narrow cell B with its nucleus near the bottom end.
Bo compares cells A and B, which both came from one G1 cell. What do the nuclei of A and B share?
- The same genes switched on, so they do the same job
- The same DNA, copied from the cell they both came from
- The same shape, because both started as one cell
- Different DNA, because their shapes are different
Cycle wheel (model, not to scale), clockwise from the top
G1, S, G2, mitosis (M), cytokinesis. A side branch labeled G0 leaves the wheel near the start of G1. The wheel is a dividing cell in a root tip. A branch leaves the wheel after G1 and ends at a drawn cell A that carries water and minerals up the plant.
Esme reads a wheel for a cell in a root tip. A branch leads to cell A, which carries water up the plant. What does the root tip do?
- Its cells keep their first shape, so no new tissues form
- It makes no new cells, because plants have no cells that divide and specialize
- Its cells divide, and some of the new cells specialize, such as into xylem
- Its specialized cells divide into any other kind of plant cell
“Drawn cell (model, not to scale):” Jun studies a drawn cell that is long and striped, with many nuclei along its edge. Which job fits this cell?
- Sending signals, since any long cell is a nerve cell
- Covering a surface as a thin sheet
- Contracting to move the body
- Carrying oxygen to tissues
Use this
Drawn cell (model, not to scale): a round cell body with a nucleus in the middle, several short branching projections on one side, and one long projection on the other.
Kira studies a drawn cell with a round body, branching projections on one side and one long projection. Which job fits?
Drawn cell (model, not to scale): a round cell body with a nucleus in the middle, several short branching projections on one side, and one long projection on the other. Drawn cell (model, not to scale): a round cell body with a nucleus in the middle, several short branching projections on one side, and one long projection on the other. - Receiving and sending signals
- Carrying oxygen to tissues
- Covering a surface as a thin sheet
- Contracting to move the body
Luz says cells A and B do the same job because both are 8 µm wide. What is the best reply?
Two drawn cells (model data, not to scale). Cell A is 8 µm wide, flat and round, with a small nucleus in the middle. Cell B is 8 µm wide, tall and narrow, with its nucleus near the bottom end. Two drawn cells (model data, not to scale). Cell A is 8 µm wide, flat and round, with a small nucleus in the middle. Cell B is 8 µm wide, tall and narrow, with its nucleus near the bottom end. Cell A 8 µm wide Cell B 8 µm wide - Yes, cells of the same width do the same job
- Size is one clue, but shape and features also show a cell's job
- Yes, a nucleus in the cell means the same job
- No, cells of the same width must have different DNA
Two body cells (model data)
cell has a nucleus nerve cell yes muscle cell yes Milo learns that a nerve cell and a muscle cell from one person each have a nucleus. What is true of the DNA in their nuclei?
- Just the muscle cell's nucleus holds DNA
- Both cells use their whole set of genes at once
- Each cell has its own DNA, matching its job
- It is the same set of DNA instructions in both
model, not to scale. Pia says every body cell has a nucleus full of DNA. Which drawn cell is an exception?
Four drawn human body cells (model, not to scale). Cell A is flat, with a small nucleus in the middle. Cell B is long and striped, with many nuclei. Cell C has branching projections and a nucleus in its round body. Cell D is a round disc with no nucleus. Four drawn human body cells (model, not to scale). Cell A is flat, with a small nucleus in the middle. Cell B is long and striped, with many nuclei. Cell C has branching projections and a nucleus in its round body. Cell D is a round disc with no nucleus. Cell A Cell B Cell C Cell D - Cell D, the disc-shaped cell
- Cell C, the branching cell
- Cell B, the long striped cell
- Cell A, the flat cell
Flash card (not to scale)
The front reads: adult bone marrow holds stem cells that make platelets, red blood cells and white blood cells. The back is blank.
Tala says only young children have stem cells. A card says adult bone marrow holds stem cells that make blood cells. What is true?
- Adult stem cells exist but cannot give rise to other cells
- Adults have stem cells too, such as the ones in bone marrow
- Adults lose their stem cells; young children keep theirs
- Bone marrow cells are already specialized and cannot divide
The front reads: apical meristem. The back is blank. Zee wants to find a plant's apical meristems. Where should the search start?
- Along the sides of stems, where the plant thickens
- Nowhere; plants get longer as existing cells stretch
- At the tips of the shoots and the roots
- In the leaves, where sugars are made

