4.1.1.4 Cell differentiation

What is differentiation

The process by which a cell changes to become specialised for its job

. As a cell differentiates it acquires different sub-cellular structures to enable it to carry out a certain function. It has become a specialised cell.

This involves some of their genes being switched on or off to produce different proteins, allowing the cell to acquire different sub-cellular substances for it to carry out a specific function

Stem cells

Cells that have the ability to repeatedly divide by mitosis and differentiate into different types of specialised cells

Cell differentiation in animals

In most animal cells, the ability to differentiate is then lost at an early stage, after they become specialised. most specialised cells make more of the same cell by undergoing mitosis

Others such a red blood cells (which lose their nucleus) cannot divide and are replaced by adult stem cells )(which retain their ability to undergo differentiation)

Differentiation in mature animals

Cell division/ differentiation mostly only happens to repair or replace damages cells, as they undergo little growth

Differentiation in plant

Don’t ever lose their ability

Undifferentiated cells

Stem Cells

why cell differentiation is important in human cells

allows cells to specialise

allows specific function