Question

Once cells have specialized and are performing a specific function they cannot.

Check all that apply

Undergo cell division
Undergo differentiation
Become stem cells
Turn on all of the genes found in the nucleus

Answer 1

undergo differentiation
become stem cells
turn on all of the genes found in the nucleus

some cells can undergo cell division

Answer 2

The correct options would be

• Become stem cells
• Undergo differentiation
• Turn on all of the genes found in the nucleus

The cell is said to differentiate when they grow and mature to perform a specialized function.

It can not re-differentiate into any other cell type. For example, muscle cell cannot differentiate into the blood cell.

In addition, the differentiated cell cannot convert back to the stem cell as stem cell is an undifferentiated cell which is capable of dividing and differentiate into another cell type.

Lastly, in a differentiated cell, only a specific set of genes are expressed. For example, in a sarcomere different set of genes would be expressed as compared to the genes expressed in a neuron.