What is Cell differentiation?
[[File:Stemcelldifferentiaion.jpg|thumb|right|280px|Stem cell differentiation]] '''Cellular differentiation''' is how a less specialized [[cell (biology)|cell]] becomes a more specialized cell type. It is part of [[developmental biology]]. Different [[Tissue (biological)|tissues]] have different kinds of [[organelles]] inside the cells. Differentiation occurs many times during the development of a [[multicellular organism]]. The organism changes from a single [[zygote]] to a complex system of tissues and cell types. Differentiation is also a common process in adults: adult [[stem cell]]s divide to make fully-differentiated [[Cell division|daughter cells]] during tissue repair and during normal cell turnover.<ref>Slack J.M.W. 2013. ''Essential developmental biology''. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.</ref> Differentiation dramatically changes a cell's size, shape, [[metabolism|metabolic activity]], and responsiveness to signals. These changes are largely due to changes in [[gene expression]]. With a few exceptions, cellular differentiation almost never involves a change in the [[DNA]] sequence itself. It does involve switching off many [[gene]]s not needed in a particular tissue. Thus, cells in different tissues may have very different physical characteristics despite having the same [[genome]].<ref>Moore J.A. 1972. ''Readings in heredity & development''. Oxford, N.Y.</ref> ''Cell potency'' is a cell's ability to differentiate into other cell types. A cell that is able to differentiate into many cell types is known as ''pluripotent''. Such cells are called [[stem cell]]s in animals and [[meristem|meristematic cells]] in higher plants. A cell that is able to differentiate into all cell types is known as ''totipotent''. In [[mammals]], only the zygote and early [[embryo]]nic cells are totipotent, while in plants many differentiated cells can become totipotent with simple laboratory techniques. == References == {{Reflist}} [[Category:Genetics]] [[Category:Cell biology]] [[Category:Developmental biology]]