.4 Cell differentiation

• As an organism develops, cells differentiate to form different types of cells. 


  Most types of animal cell differentiate at an early stage.

  Many types of plant cells retain the ability to differentiate throughout life.
• In mature animals, cell division is mainly restricted to repair and replacement. As a cell differentiates it acquires different sub-cellular structures to enable it to carry out a certain function. It has become a specialised cells
• The process by which a cell becomes specialised is called differentiation
• Differentiation involves changes in gene expression. The genes that are switched on or off determine what proteins will be made within the cell. Different sets of genes are expressed in different tissues so this results in differences between cells
• Differentiation involves changes in gene expression as genes are switched on or off during development. This results in the production of specific proteins that give rise to the characteristic features of the new type of cell.
• the importance of cell differentiation:

  an essential process for the development, growth, reproduction and longevity of all multicellular organisms its regulation has been the focus of intense investigation for the past 4 decades
• Cell differentiation is important because it allows cells to perform their functions effectively. For example, muscle cells have many mitochondria to produce ATP for contraction while nerve cells have long axons with myelin sheaths to transmit electrical impulses quickly over long distances. Without these adaptations, the body would not work properly.