Cell differentiation and specialisation

• Cells don't all look the same. They have different structures to suit their different functions.
• Differentiation is when a cell changes to become specialised for its job.
• In MOST animal cells, the ability to differentiate is lost at an early stage.
• Lots of plant cells never lost the ability to differentiate.
• Cells that differentiate in mature animals are mainly used for repairing and replacing cells.
• Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can divide to make more undifferentiated cells.
• Stem cells can also differentiate into other types of cells.