# A student is researching how plant cells become specialised. They learn that meristematic cells in plants can differentiate into many different cell types, including guard cells and root hair cells. Explain how cell differentiation allows multicellular organisms to become more efficient.

> OCR A-Level Biology B — Advancing Biology (H422) — 2.1 Cell structure · Explain · 5 marks

> Meristematic cells are undifferentiated cells found in plant meristem tissue. Through cell differentiation, these cells can develop into specialised cell types, each with a structure suited to its function.

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. Cell differentiation is the production of specialised cells
2. Specialised cells have structural features suited to their specific function
3. Correct example: root hair cells have a large surface area to increase uptake of water and minerals from the soil
4. Correct example: guard cells control the opening and closing of stomata to regulate gas exchange and water loss
5. Because different cell types carry out different roles, the whole multicellular organism functions more efficiently than if all cells were the same

## Key terms

- [cell differentiation](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/cell-differentiation)
- [meristematic cell](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/meristematic-cell)
- [multicellular organism](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/multicellular-organism)
- [guard cells](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/guard-cells)
- [root hair cells](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/root-hair-cells)

## Related

- [Revision notes for OCR A-Level Biology B — Advancing Biology (H422)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

---
Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-student-is-researching-how-plant-89a22e13) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.