The process by which cells become specialized is called what?

• A. Differentiation
• B. Stem cells
• C. Embryo
• D. Genes

Answer: (A)

Differentiation is the process by which cells become specialized in structure and function. During development and tissue maintenance, cells receive signals that turn specific genes on or off, so a cell can take on a particular role—like a nerve cell, muscle cell, or skin cell—each with its own set of proteins and activities. Even though all cells share the same genes, different gene expression patterns generate diverse cell types. Stem cells are capable of differentiation, but they describe the potential rather than the process itself; an embryo refers to an early developmental stage, and genes are the instructions that guide development but don’t by themselves define the process.