120 This is the how many days, approximately, a human red blood cell lives. Other cell types have different lifespans, ranging from a few weeks for some skin cells to as long as the life of the organism for healthy neurons.
50 to 70 billion This is how many cells die each day in the human body. Those that die in the largest numbers are skin cells, blood cells and some cells that line structures like organs and glands.
If you are in Year 7 or above, you need to be able to recognise different specialised cells. . You should also be able to label some of these and explain how they are adapted to their function.
To help you understand, check out Part 2 of our “How to work with Cell Biology” guide. This describes the structure of different cells, and how they are adapted. It also includes some GCSE questions for you to practice, and answers to check your understanding.
Click on the picture below to see the guide.
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