Differentiation

Give an example of cells on different levels of differentiation.

a leukocyte is more differentiated than a hematopoetic cell which is more differentiated than a zygote

Define totipotency.

ability to differentiate into any cell type

Define pleuripotency/multipotency.

ability to differentiate into multiple cell types

Define neoplasia.

abnormal, new growth

Define stem/precursor/progenitor cells.

cells that are pleuripotent or totipotent

Define undifferentiated cells.

cells that have not transformed into a specialized cell type

Define specialized cells types.

cells with distinctive morphological characteristics and/or molecular processes

Define blastomeres.

early embryonic cells

Define specification.

first phase of commitment, still reversible

Define anaplasia.

for cells to lose specialized features, making them unrecognizable

Define autonomous specification.

intracellular signals control differentiation

Define mesenchyme.

loosely organized stem cells

What is the general trend of differentiation through development?

more and more differentiated

Define determination.

point when a cell must differentiate into another type, so that it loses the ability to differentiate into another type of cell, may begin before or during differentiation

Define commitment.

process of restricting a cell to differentiate into a specific type

Define differentiation.

process of transformation into a different cell type

Define intercellular specification.

signals between cells controlling differentiation

Define dedifferentiation.

specialized cells transforming into a less specialized cell type

Define differentiated cells.

specialized cells with limited or no ability to transform into other cell types

Describe the characteristics of differentiated cells.

specialized structure and/or function, slow or arrested cell cycle, impaired ability to transform to other cell types

Define blast cells.

stem cells from any embryonic stage

What is the relationship between differentiation and regenerative properties?

the more differentiated, the less ability to regenerate

Define metaplasia.

transformation of one differentiated cell type to another cell type