Cellular differentiation
Cellular Differentiation
Cellular differentiation (pronunciation: /ˌsɛljʊlər ˌdɪfərɛnʃiˈeɪʃən/) is a process in biology where a cell changes from one cell type to another. This process is crucial in multicellular organisms, where cells of different types perform different functions.
Etymology
The term "cellular differentiation" is derived from the Latin cellula, meaning "a small room", and the English term differentiation, which means "the process of becoming different".
Process
Cellular differentiation usually involves changes in the gene expression of the cell, which can lead to changes in the cell's morphology, membrane potential, metabolic activity, and responsiveness to signals. These changes are largely due to the selective expression of an organism's genes.
Related Terms
- Stem cell: A cell with the unique ability to develop into specialised cell types in the body.
- Gene expression: The process by which information from a gene is used to create a functional product, usually a protein.
- Morphology (biology): The study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features.
- Membrane potential: The difference in electric potential between the interior and the exterior of a biological cell.
- Metabolic activity: The set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms.
- Responsiveness: The ability of an organism or a system to adjust to changes in its environment.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cellular differentiation
- Wikipedia's article - Cellular differentiation
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski