BRAINCAKEDifferentiation
Differentiation is the process by which unspecialised cells become specialised for a particular function, for example a red blood cell, neurone or palisade cell.
Almost every cell in an organism contains the same genes, because all cells come from the zygote by mitosis. Cells become different because they use different genes. This is differential gene expression: in each cell type some genes are switched on and others are switched off. Genes are switched on or off by proteins called transcription factors, which bind to DNA and control whether a gene is transcribed into mRNA. Only active genes produce mRNA, which is translated into proteins, and these proteins change the structure and function of the cell. For example, a developing red blood cell makes large amounts of haemoglobin and loses its nucleus.
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More in Meiosis and Sexual Reproduction
- Formation of Pollen
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- External Fertilisation
- Fertilisation in Humans
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All 28 lessons in Meiosis and Sexual Reproduction · All Edexcel AS-level Biology topics