Cell Differentiation

• Most cells are specialized for a specific job
• Differentiation


  The process by which a cell changes to become specialized for its job
• Having specialized cells is important as it allows organisms to work more efficiently
• In most animal cells, the ability to differentiate is lost at an early stage, but many plant cells don't ever lose this ability
• Meristems are found in the parts of a plant that are growing, such as the roots and shoots
• In plants, the only cells that divide by mitosis are found in plant tissues called meristems
• Meristems produce undifferentiated cells that are able to divide and form any cell type in the plant, similar to human stem cells
• Meristems can become specialized and form xylem and phloem