Cell differentiation

Article By:

Sauer, Helmut Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.

Last reviewed:January 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.116170

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• Cell differentiation, published November 2019:Download PDF Get Adobe Acrobat Reader

The mechanism by which cells in a multicellular organism become specialized to perform specific functions in a variety of tissues and organs. Cell differentiation is the process through which cells are transformed into divergent types of cells having particular functions (see illustration). Cell differentiation is regulated genetically; that is, certain genes are turned on, whereas others are turned off, determining the outcome of cell differentiation. In terms of development, the life cycle of a higher organism begins with a unicellular stage—the fertilized egg—and becomes more complex as the individual grows and takes on its characteristic form. The life cycle of a unicellular organism permits temporary change in shape and chemical composition. Only a multicellular organism can afford irreversibly differentiated cells. See also: Cell (biology); Cell biology; Cell lineage; Developmental biology; Developmental genetics; Gene; Genetics

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